it seemed to take a curve parallel to the lunar disc。 The orb
of night shone splendidly into space； while opposite； the orb of
day blazed with fire。
Their situation began to make them uneasy。
〃Are we reaching our destination？〃 said Nicholl。
〃Let us act as if we were about reaching it；〃 replied Barbicane。
〃You are sceptical；〃 retorted Michel Ardan。 〃We shall arrive；
and that； too； quicker than we like。〃
This answer brought Barbicane back to his preparations； and he
occupied himself with placing the contrivances intended to break
their descent。 We may remember the scene of the meeting held at
Tampa Town； in Florida； when Captain Nicholl came forward as
Barbicane's enemy and Michel Ardan's adversary。 To Captain
Nicholl's maintaining that the projectile would smash like glass；
Michel replied that he would break their fall by means of rockets
properly placed。
Thus； powerful fireworks； taking their starting…point from the
base and bursting outside； could； by producing a recoil； check
to a certain degree the projectile's speed。 These rockets were
to burn in space； it is true； but oxygen would not fail them；
for they could supply themselves with it； like the lunar
volcanoes； the burning of which has never yet been stopped by
the want of atmosphere round the moon。
Barbicane had accordingly supplied himself with these fireworks；
enclosed in little steel guns； which could be screwed on to the
base of the projectile。 Inside； these guns were flush with the
bottom； outside； they protruded about eighteen inches。 There were
twenty of them。 An opening left in the disc allowed them to light
the match with which each was provided。 All the effect was
felt outside。 The burning mixture had already been rammed
into each gun。 They had； then； nothing to do but raise the
metallic buffers fixed in the base； and replace them by the
guns； which fitted closely in their places。
This new work was finished about three o'clock； and after taking
all these precautions there remained but to wait。 But the
projectile was perceptibly nearing the moon； and evidently
succumbed to her influence to a certain degree； though its
own velocity also drew it in an oblique direction。 From these
conflicting influences resulted a line which might become
a tangent。 But it was certain that the projectile would not
fall directly on the moon； for its lower part； by reason of
its weight； ought to be turned toward her。
Barbicane's uneasiness increased as he saw his projectile resist
the influence of gravitation。 The Unknown was opening before
him； the Unknown in interplanetary space。 The man of science
thought he had foreseen the only three hypotheses possible the
return to the earth； the return to the moon； or stagnation on
the neutral line； and here a fourth hypothesis； big with all the
terrors of the Infinite； surged up inopportunely。 To face it
without flinching； one must be a resolute savant like Barbicane；
a phlegmatic being like Nicholl； or an audacious adventurer like
Michel Ardan。
Conversation was started upon this subject。 Other men would
have considered the question from a practical point of view；
they would have asked themselves whither their projectile
carriage was carrying them。 Not so with these； they sought for
the cause which produced this effect。
〃So we have become diverted from our route；〃 said Michel； 〃but why？〃
〃I very much fear；〃 answered Nicholl； 〃that； in spite of
all precautions taken； the Columbiad was not fairly pointed。
An error； however small； would be enough to throw us out of
the moon's attraction。〃
〃Then they must have aimed badly？〃 asked Michel。
〃I do not think so；〃 replied Barbicane。 〃The perpendicularity
of the gun was exact； its direction to the zenith of the spot
incontestible； and the moon passing to the zenith of the spot；
we ought to reach it at the full。 There is another reason；
but it escapes me。〃
〃Are we not arriving too late？〃 asked Nicholl。
〃Too late？〃 said Barbicane。
〃Yes；〃 continued Nicholl。 〃The Cambridge Observatory's note
says that the transit ought to be accomplished in ninety…seven
hours thirteen minutes and twenty seconds； which means to say；
that _sooner_ the moon will _not_ be at the point indicated； and
_later_ it will have passed it。〃
〃True；〃 replied Barbicane。 〃But we started the 1st of December；
at thirteen minutes and twenty…five seconds to eleven at night；
and we ought to arrive on the 5th at midnight； at the exact
moment when the moon would be full； and we are now at the
5th of December。 It is now half…past three in the evening；
half…past eight ought to see us at the end of our journey。
Why do we not arrive？〃
〃Might it not be an excess of speed？〃 answered Nicholl； 〃for we
know now that its initial velocity was greater than they supposed。〃
〃No！ a hundred times； no！〃 replied Barbicane。 〃An excess of
speed； if the direction of the projectile had been right； would
not have prevented us reaching the moon。 No； there has been
a deviation。 We have been turned out of our course。〃
〃By whom？ by what？〃 asked Nicholl。
〃I cannot say；〃 replied Barbicane。
〃Very well； then； Barbicane；〃 said Michel； 〃do you wish to know
my opinion on the subject of finding out this deviation？〃
〃Speak。〃
〃I would not give half a dollar to know it。 That we have
deviated is a fact。 Where we are going matters little； we shall
soon see。 Since we are being borne along in space we shall end
by falling into some center of attraction or other。〃
Michel Ardan's indifference did not content Barbicane。 Not that
he was uneasy about the future； but he wanted to know at any
cost _why_ his projectile had deviated。
But the projectile continued its course sideways to the moon；
and with it the mass of things thrown out。 Barbicane could even
prove； by the elevations which served as landmarks upon the
moon； which was only two thousand leagues distant； that its
speed was becoming uniform fresh proof that there was no fall。
Its impulsive force still prevailed over the lunar attraction；
but the projectile's course was certainly bringing it nearer to
the moon； and they might hope that at a nearer point the weight；
predominating； would cause a decided fall。
The three friends； having nothing better to do； continued their
observations； but they could not yet determine the topographical
position of the satellite； every relief was leveled under the
reflection of the solar rays。
They watched thus through the side windows until eight o'clock
at night。 The moon had grown so large in their eyes that it
filled half of the firmament。 The sun on one side； and the orb
of night on the other； flooded the projectile with light。
At that moment Barbicane thought he could estimate the distance
which separated them from their aim at no more than 700 leagues。
The speed of the projectile seemed to him to be more than 200
yards； or about 170 leagues a second。 Under the centripetal
force； the base of the projectile tended toward the moon； but
the centrifugal still prevailed； and it was probable that its
rectilineal course would be changed to a curve of some sort；
the nature of which they could not at present determine。
Barbicane was still seeking the solution of his insoluble problem。
Hours passed without any result。 The projectile was evidently
nearing the moon； but it was also evident that it would never
reach her。 As to the nearest distance at which it would pass her；
that must be the result of two forces； attraction and repulsion；
affecting its motion。
〃I ask but one thing；〃 said Michel； 〃that we may pass near
enough to penetrate her secrets。〃
〃Cursed be the thing that has caused our projectile to deviate
from its course；〃 cried Nicholl。
And； as if a light had suddenly broken in upon his mind； Barbicane
answered； 〃Then cursed be the meteor which crossed our path。〃
〃What？〃 said Michel Ardan。
〃What do you mean？〃 exclaimed Nicholl。
〃I mean；〃 said Barbicane in a decided tone； 〃I mean that our
deviation is owing solely to our meeting with this erring body。〃
〃But it did not even brush us as it passed；〃 said Michel。
〃What does that matter？ Its mass； compared to that of our
projectile； was enormous； and its attraction was enough to
influence our course。〃
〃So little？〃 cried Nicholl。
〃Yes； Nicholl； but however little it might be；〃 replied
Barbicane； 〃in a distance of 84；000 leagues； it wanted no more
to make us miss the moon。〃
CHAPTER X
THE OBSERVERS OF THE MOON
Barbicane had evidently hit upon the only plausible reason
of this deviation。 However slight it might have been； it
had sufficed to modify the course of the projectile。 It was
a fatality。 The bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous
circumstance； and unless by some exceptional event； they could
now never reach the moon's disc。
Would they pass near enough to be able to solve certain physical
and geological questions until then insoluble？ This was the
question； and the only one； which occupied the minds of these
bold travelers。 As to the fate in store for themselves； they
did not even dream of it。
But what would become of them amid these infinite solitudes；
these who would soon want air？ A few more days； and they would
fall stifled in this wandering projectile。 But some days to
these intrepid fellows was a century； and they devoted all their
time to observe that moon which they no longer hoped to reach。
The distance which had then separated the projectile from the
satellite was estimated at about two hundred leagues。 Under these
conditions； as regards the visibility of the details of the disc；
the travelers were farther from the moon than are the inhabitants
of earth with their powerful telescopes。
Indeed； we know that the instrument mounted by Lord Rosse at
Parsonstown； which magnifies 6；500 times； brings the moon to
within an apparent distance of sixteen leagues。 And more than
that； with the powerful one set up at Long's Peak； the orb of
night； magnified 48；000 times； is brought to within less than
two leagues； and objects having a diameter of thirty feet are
seen very distinctly。 So that； at this distance； the
topographical details of the