three travelers a certain freedom of movement。 The thick window
inserted in the bottom could bear any amount of weight； and
Barbicane and his companions walked upon it as if it were solid
plank； but the sun striking it directly with its rays lit the
interior of the projectile from beneath； thus producing singular
effects of light。
They began by investigating the state of their store of water
and provisions； neither of which had suffered； thanks to the
care taken to deaden the shock。 Their provisions were abundant；
and plentiful enough to last the three travelers for more than
a year。 Barbicane wished to be cautious； in case the projectile
should land on a part of the moon which was utterly barren。
As to water and the reserve of brandy； which consisted of fifty
gallons； there was only enough for two months； but according to
the last observations of astronomers； the moon had a low； dense；
and thick atmosphere； at least in the deep valleys； and there
springs and streams could not fail。 Thus； during their passage；
and for the first year of their settlement on the lunar
continent； these adventurous explorers would suffer neither
hunger nor thirst。
Now about the air in the projectile。 There； too； they were secure。
Reiset and Regnaut's apparatus； intended for the production of
oxygen； was supplied with chlorate of potassium for two months。
They necessarily consumed a certain quantity of gas； for they
were obliged to keep the producing substance at a temperature
of above 400@。 But there again they were all safe。 The apparatus
only wanted a little care。 But it was not enough to renew the
oxygen； they must absorb the carbonic acid produced by expiration。
During the last twelve hours the atmosphere of the projectile had
become charged with this deleterious gas。 Nicholl discovered
the state of the air by observing Diana panting painfully。
The carbonic acid； by a phenomenon similar to that produced in
the famous Grotto del Cane； had collected at the bottom of the
projectile owing to its weight。 Poor Diana； with her head low；
would suffer before her masters from the presence of this gas。
But Captain Nicholl hastened to remedy this state of things；
by placing on the floor several receivers containing caustic
potash； which he shook about for a time； and this substance；
greedy of carbonic acid； soon completely absorbed it； thus
purifying the air。
An inventory of instruments was then begun。 The thermometers
and barometers had resisted； all but one minimum thermometer；
the glass of which was broken。 An excellent aneroid was drawn
from the wadded box which contained it and hung on the wall。
Of course it was only affected by and marked the pressure of the
air inside the projectile； but it also showed the quantity of
moisture which it contained。 At that moment its needle
oscillated between 25。24 and 25。08。
It was fine weather。
Barbicane had also brought several compasses； which he found intact。
One must understand that under present conditions their needles
were acting _wildly_； that is without any _constant_ direction。
Indeed； at the distance they were from the earth； the magnetic
pole could have no perceptible action upon the apparatus； but
the box placed on the lunar disc might perhaps exhibit some
strange phenomena。 In any case it would be interesting to see
whether the earth's satellite submitted like herself to its
magnetic influence。
A hypsometer to measure the height of the lunar mountains； a
sextant to take the height of the sun； glasses which would be
useful as they neared the moon； all these instruments were
carefully looked over； and pronounced good in spite of the
violent shock。
As to the pickaxes and different tools which were Nicholl's
especial choice； as to the sacks of different kinds of grain and
shrubs which Michel Ardan hoped to transplant into Selenite
ground； they were stowed away in the upper part of the projectile。
There was a sort of granary there； loaded with things which the
extravagant Frenchman had heaped up。 What they were no one knew；
and the good…tempered fellow did not explain。 Now and then he
climbed up by cramp…irons riveted to the walls； but kept the
inspection to himself。 He arranged and rearranged； he plunged
his hand rapidly into certain mysterious boxes； singing in one
of the falsest of voices an old French refrain to enliven
the situation。
Barbicane observed with some interest that his guns and other
arms had not been damaged。 These were important； because；
heavily loaded； they were to help lessen the fall of the
projectile； when drawn by the lunar attraction （after having
passed the point of neutral attraction） on to the moon's
surface； a fall which ought to be six times less rapid than it
would have been on the earth's surface； thanks to the difference
of bulk。 The inspection ended with general satisfaction； when
each returned to watch space through the side windows and the
lower glass coverlid。
There was the same view。 The whole extent of the celestial
sphere swarmed with stars and constellations of wonderful
purity； enough to drive an astronomer out of his mind！ On one
side the sun； like the mouth of a lighted oven； a dazzling disc
without a halo； standing out on the dark background of the sky！
On the other； the moon returning its fire by reflection； and
apparently motionless in the midst of the starry world。 Then； a
large spot seemingly nailed to the firmament； bordered by a
silvery cord； it was the earth！ Here and there nebulous masses
like large flakes of starry snow； and from the zenith to the nadir；
an immense ring formed by an impalpable dust of stars； the 〃Milky
Way；〃 in the midst of which the sun ranks only as a star of the
fourth magnitude。 The observers could not take their eyes from
this novel spectacle； of which no description could give an
adequate idea。 What reflections it suggested！ What emotions
hitherto unknown awoke in their souls！ Barbicane wished to begin
the relation of his journey while under its first impressions；
and hour after hour took notes of all facts happening in the
beginning of the enterprise。 He wrote quietly； with his large
square writing； in a business…like style。
During this time Nicholl； the calculator； looked over the
minutes of their passage； and worked out figures with
unparalleled dexterity。 Michel Ardan chatted first with
Barbicane； who did not answer him； and then with Nicholl； who
did not hear him； with Diana； who understood none of his
theories； and lastly with himself； questioning and answering；
going and coming； busy with a thousand details； at one time bent
over the lower glass； at another roosting in the heights of the
projectile； and always singing。 In this microcosm he
represented French loquacity and excitability； and we beg you to
believe that they were well represented。 The day； or rather
（for the expression is not correct） the lapse of twelve hours；
which forms a day upon the earth； closed with a plentiful supper
carefully prepared。 No accident of any nature had yet happened
to shake the travelers' confidence； so； full of hope； already
sure of success； they slept peacefully； while the projectile
under an uniformly decreasing speed was crossing the sky。
CHAPTER IV
A LITTLE ALGEBRA
The night passed without incident。 The word 〃night；〃 however；
is scarcely applicable。
The position of the projectile with regard to the sun did
not change。 Astronomically； it was daylight on the lower part；
and night on the upper； so when during this narrative these
words are used； they represent the lapse of time between rising
and setting of the sun upon the earth。
The travelers' sleep was rendered more peaceful by the
projectile's excessive speed； for it seemed absolutely motionless。
Not a motion betrayed its onward course through space。 The rate
of progress； however rapid it might be； cannot produce any
sensible effect on the human frame when it takes place in a
vacuum； or when the mass of air circulates with the body which
is carried with it。 What inhabitant of the earth perceives its
speed； which； however； is at the rate of 68；000 miles per hour？
Motion under such conditions is 〃felt〃 no more than repose； and
when a body is in repose it will remain so as long as no strange
force displaces it； if moving； it will not stop unless an
obstacle comes in its way。 This indifference to motion or
repose is called inertia。
Barbicane and his companions might have believed themselves
perfectly stationary； being shut up in the projectile； indeed；
the effect would have been the same if they had been on the
outside of it。 Had it not been for the moon； which was
increasing above them； they might have sworn that they were
floating in complete stagnation。
That morning； the 3rd of December； the travelers were awakened by
a joyous but unexpected noise； it was the crowing of a cock
which sounded through the car。 Michel Ardan； who was the first
on his feet； climbed to the top of the projectile； and shutting
a box； the lid of which was partly open； said in a low voice；
〃Will you hold your tongue？ That creature will spoil my design！〃
But Nicholl and Barbicane were awake。
〃A cock！〃 said Nicholl。
〃Why no； my friends；〃 Michel answered quickly； 〃it was I who
wished to awake you by this rural sound。〃 So saying； he gave
vent to a splendid cock…a…doodledoo； which would have done honor
to the proudest of poultry…yards。
The two Americans could not help laughing。
〃Fine talent that；〃 said Nicholl； looking suspiciously at his companion。
〃Yes；〃 said Michel； 〃a joke in my country。 It is very Gallic；
they play the cock so in the best society。〃
Then turning the conversation：
〃Barbicane； do you know what I have been thinking of all night？〃
〃No；〃 answered the president。
〃Of our Cambridge friends。 You have already remarked that I am
an ignoramus in mathematical subjects； and it is impossible for
me to find out how the savants of the observatory were able to
calculate what initiatory speed the projectile ought to have on
leaving the Columbiad in order to attain the moon。〃
〃You mean to say；〃 replied Barbicane； 〃to attain that neutral
point where the