This curious but certainly correct explanation once given, the three friends returned to their slumbers1. Could they have found a calmer or more peaceful spot to sleep in? On the earth, houses, towns, cottages, and country feel every shock given to the exterior2 of the globe. On sea, the vessels3 rocked by the waves are still in motion; in the air, the balloon oscillates incessantly4 on the fluid strata5 of divers6 densities7. This projectile8 alone, floating in perfect space, in the midst of perfect silence, offered perfect repose9.
Thus the sleep of our adventurous10 travelers might have been indefinitely prolonged, if an unexpected noise had not awakened11 them at about seven o’clock in the morning of the 2nd of December, eight hours after their departure.
This noise was a very natural barking.
“The dogs! it is the dogs!” exclaimed Michel Ardan, rising at once.
“They are hungry,” said Nicholl.
“By Jove!” replied Michel, “we have forgotten them.”
“Where are they?” asked Barbicane.
They looked and found one of the animals crouched13 under the divan14. Terrified and shaken by the initiatory15 shock, it had remained in the corner till its voice returned with the pangs16 of hunger. It was the amiable17 Diana, still very confused, who crept out of her retreat, though not without much persuasion18, Michel Ardan encouraging her with most gracious words.
“Come, Diana,” said he: “come, my girl! thou whose destiny will be marked in the cynegetic annals; thou whom the pagans would have given as companion to the god Anubis, and Christians19 as friend to St. Roch; thou who art rushing into interplanetary space, and wilt20 perhaps be the Eve of all Selenite dogs! come, Diana, come here.”
Diana, flattered or not, advanced by degrees, uttering plaintive21 cries.
“Good,” said Barbicane: “I see Eve, but where is Adam?”
“Adam?” replied Michel; “Adam cannot be far off; he is there somewhere; we must call him. Satellite! here, Satellite!”
But Satellite did not appear. Diana would not leave off howling. They found, however, that she was not bruised22, and they gave her a pie, which silenced her complaints. As to Satellite, he seemed quite lost. They had to hunt a long time before finding him in one of the upper compartments23 of the projectile, whither some unaccountable shock must have violently hurled24 him. The poor beast, much hurt, was in a piteous state.
“The devil!” said Michel.
They brought the unfortunate dog down with great care. Its skull25 had been broken against the roof, and it seemed unlikely that he could recover from such a shock. Meanwhile, he was stretched comfortably on a cushion. Once there, he heaved a sigh.
“We will take care of you,” said Michel; “we are responsible for your existence. I would rather lose an arm than a paw of my poor Satellite.”
Saying which, he offered some water to the wounded dog, who swallowed it with avidity.
This attention paid, the travelers watched the earth and the moon attentively26. The earth was now only discernible by a cloudy disc ending in a crescent, rather more contracted than that of the previous evening; but its expanse was still enormous, compared with that of the moon, which was approaching nearer and nearer to a perfect circle.
“By Jove!” said Michel Ardan, “I am really sorry that we did not start when the earth was full, that is to say, when our globe was in opposition27 to the sun.”
“Why?” said Nicholl.
“Because we should have seen our continents and seas in a new light — the first resplendent under the solar rays, the latter cloudy as represented on some maps of the world. I should like to have seen those poles of the earth on which the eye of man has never yet rested.
“I dare say,” replied Barbicane; “but if the earth had been full, the moon would have been new; that is to say, invisible, because of the rays of the sun. It is better for us to see the destination we wish to reach, than the point of departure.”
“You are right, Barbicane,” replied Captain Nicholl; “and, besides, when we have reached the moon, we shall have time during the long lunar nights to consider at our leisure the globe on which our likenesses swarm29.”
“Our likenesses!” exclaimed Michel Ardan; “They are no more our likenesses than the Selenites are! We inhabit a new world, peopled by ourselves — the projectile! I am Barbicane’s likeness28, and Barbicane is Nicholl’s. Beyond us, around us, human nature is at an end, and we are the only population of this microcosm until we become pure Selenites.”
“In about eighty-eight hours,” replied the captain.
“Which means to say?” asked Michel Ardan.
“That it is half-past eight,” replied Nicholl.
“Very well,” retorted Michel; “then it is impossible for me to find even the shadow of a reason why we should not go to breakfast.”
Indeed the inhabitants of the new star could not live without eating, and their stomachs were suffering from the imperious laws of hunger. Michel Ardan, as a Frenchman, was declared chief cook, an important function, which raised no rival. The gas gave sufficient heat for the culinary apparatus30, and the provision box furnished the elements of this first feast.
The breakfast began with three bowls of excellent soup, thanks to the liquefaction in hot water of those precious cakes of Liebig, prepared from the best parts of the ruminants of the Pampas. To the soup succeeded some beefsteaks, compressed by an hydraulic31 press, as tender and succulent as if brought straight from the kitchen of an English eating-house. Michel, who was imaginative, maintained that they were even “red.”
Preserved vegetables (“fresher than nature,” said the amiable Michel) succeeded the dish of meat; and was followed by some cups of tea with bread and butter, after the American fashion.
The beverage32 was declared exquisite33, and was due to the infusion34 of the choicest leaves, of which the emperor of Russia had given some chests for the benefit of the travelers.
And lastly, to crown the repast, Ardan had brought out a fine bottle of Nuits, which was found “by chance” in the provision-box. The three friends drank to the union of the earth and her satellite.
And, as if he had not already done enough for the generous wine which he had distilled35 on the slopes of Burgundy, the sun chose to be part of the party. At this moment the projectile emerged from the conical shadow cast by the terrestrial globe, and the rays of the radiant orb36 struck the lower disc of the projectile direct occasioned by the angle which the moon’s orbit makes with that of the earth.
“The sun!” exclaimed Michel Ardan.
“No doubt,” replied Barbicane; “I expected it.”
“But,” said Michel, “the conical shadow which the earth leaves in space extends beyond the moon?”
“Far beyond it, if the atmospheric37 refraction is not taken into consideration,” said Barbicane. “But when the moon is enveloped38 in this shadow, it is because the centers of the three stars, the sun, the earth, and the moon, are all in one and the same straight line. Then the nodes coincide with the phases of the moon, and there is an eclipse. If we had started when there was an eclipse of the moon, all our passage would have been in the shadow, which would have been a pity.”
“Why?”
“Because, though we are floating in space, our projectile, bathed in the solar rays, will receive light and heat. It economizes39 the gas, which is in every respect a good economy.”
Indeed, under these rays which no atmosphere can temper, either in temperature or brilliancy, the projectile grew warm and bright, as if it had passed suddenly from winter to summer. The moon above, the sun beneath, were inundating40 it with their fire.
“It is pleasant here,” said Nicholl.
“I should think so,” said Michel Ardan. “With a little earth spread on our aluminum41 planet we should have green peas in twenty-four hours. I have but one fear, which is that the walls of the projectile might melt.”
“Calm yourself, my worthy42 friend,” replied Barbicane; “the projectile withstood a very much higher temperature than this as it slid through the strata of the atmosphere. I should not be surprised if it did not look like a meteor on fire to the eyes of the spectators in Florida.”
“But then J. T. Maston will think we are roasted!”
“What astonishes me,” said Barbicane, “is that we have not been. That was a danger we had not provided for.”
“I feared it,” said Nicholl simply.
“And you never mentioned it, my sublime43 captain,” exclaimed Michel Ardan, clasping his friend’s hand.
Barbicane now began to settle himself in the projectile as if he was never to leave it. One must remember that this aerial car had a base with a superficies of fifty-four square feet. Its height to the roof was twelve feet. Carefully laid out in the inside, and little encumbered44 by instruments and traveling utensils45, which each had their particular place, it left the 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 plank46; 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 plentiful47 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 utterly48 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 astronomers49, the moon had a low, dense51, 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 expiration52. 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 Grotto53 del Cane12, 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 caustic54 potash, which he shook about for a time, and this substance, greedy of carbonic acid, soon completely absorbed it, thus purifying the air.
An inventory55 of instruments was then begun. The thermometers and barometers56 had resisted, all but one minimum thermometer, the glass of which was broken. An excellent aneroid was drawn57 from the wadded box which contained it and hung on the wall. Of course it was only affected58 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 acting59 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 phenomena60. 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 shrubs61 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 extravagant62 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 riveted63 to the walls, but kept the inspection64 to himself. He arranged and rearranged, he plunged65 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 lessen66 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 celestial67 sphere swarmed68 with stars and constellations69 of wonderful purity, enough to drive an astronomer50 out of his mind! On one side the sun, like the mouth of a lighted oven, a dazzling disc without a halo, standing70 out on the dark background of the sky! On the other, the moon returning its fire by reflection, and apparently71 motionless in the midst of the starry72 world. Then, a large spot seemingly nailed to the firmament73, bordered by a silvery cord; it was the earth! Here and there nebulous masses like large flakes74 of starry snow; and from the zenith to the nadir75, 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 dexterity76. 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 bent77 over the lower glass, at another roosting in the heights of the projectile, and always singing. In this microcosm he represented French loquacity78 and excitability, and we beg you to believe that they were well represented. The day, or rather (for the expression is not correct) the lapse79 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.
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1
slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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strata
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| n.地层（复数）；社会阶层 | |
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divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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densities
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| 密集( density的名词复数 )； 稠密； 密度（固体、液体或气体单位体积的质量）； 密度（磁盘存贮数据的可用空间） | |
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projectile
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| n.投射物，发射体；adj.向前开进的；推进的；抛掷的 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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divan
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| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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initiatory
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| adj.开始的；创始的；入会的；入社的 | |
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pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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compartments
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| n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 )；（列车车厢的）隔间；（家具或设备等的）分隔间；隔层 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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hydraulic
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| adj.水力的；水压的，液压的；水力学的 | |
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beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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infusion
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| n.灌输 | |
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distilled
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| adj.由蒸馏得来的v.蒸馏( distil的过去式和过去分词 )；从…提取精华 | |
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orb
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| n.太阳；星球；v.弄圆；成球形 | |
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atmospheric
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| adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的 | |
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enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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economizes
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| n.节省，减少开支( economize的名词复数 )v.节省，减少开支( economize的第三人称单数 ) | |
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inundating
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| v.淹没( inundate的现在分词 )；（洪水般地）涌来；充满；给予或交予（太多事物）使难以应付 | |
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aluminum
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| n.(aluminium)铝 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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encumbered
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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astronomers
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| n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 ) | |
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astronomer
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| n.天文学家 | |
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51
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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52
expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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53
grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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caustic
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| adj.刻薄的，腐蚀性的 | |
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inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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56
barometers
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| 气压计，晴雨表( barometer的名词复数 ) | |
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57
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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65
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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lessen
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| vt.减少，减轻；缩小 | |
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celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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69
constellations
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| n.星座( constellation的名词复数 )；一群杰出人物；一系列（相关的想法、事物）；一群（相关的人） | |
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70
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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71
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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72
starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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73
firmament
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| n.苍穹；最高层 | |
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74
flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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75
nadir
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| n.最低点，无底 | |
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76
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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77
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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78
loquacity
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| n.多话，饶舌 | |
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79
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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