"Yes，"repliedNicholl。
　　"Verywell，"continuedMichelArdan，"theScientificCommissionassembledintheprojectileoftheGunClub，afterhavingfoundedtheirargumentonfactsrecentlyobserved，decideunanimouslyuponthequestionofthehabitabilityofthemoon——
　　`_No！_themoonisnothabitable。’"
　　ThisdecisionwasconsignedbyPresidentBarbicanetohisnotebook，wheretheprocessofthesittingofthe6thofDecembermaybeseen。
　　"Now，"saidNicholl，"letusattackthesecondquestion，anindispensablecomplementofthefirst。Iaskthehonorablecommission，ifthemoonisnothabitable，hassheeverbeeninhabited，CitizenBarbicane？"
　　"Myfriends，"repliedBarbicane，"Ididnotundertakethisjourneyinordertoformanopiniononthepasthabitabilityofoursatellite;butIwilladdthatourpersonalobservationsonlyconfirmmeinthisopinion。Ibelieve，indeedIaffirm，thatthemoonhasbeeninhabitedbyahumanraceorganizedlikeourown;thatshehasproducedanimalsanatomicallyformedliketheterrestrialanimals：butIaddthattheseraces，humanandanimal，havehadtheirday，andarenowforeverextinct！"
　　"Then，"askedMichel，"themoonmustbeolderthantheearth？"
　　"No！"saidBarbicanedecidedly，"butaworldwhichhasgrownoldquicker，andwhoseformationanddeformationhavebeenmorerapid。
　　Relatively，theorganizingforceofmatterhasbeenmuchmoreviolentintheinteriorofthemoonthanintheinterioroftheterrestrialglobe。Theactualstateofthiscracked，twisted，andburstdiscabundantlyprovesthis。Themoonandtheearthwerenothingbutgaseousmassesoriginally。Thesegaseshavepassedintoaliquidstateunderdifferentinfluences，andthesolidmasseshavebeenformedlater。Butmostcertainlyourspherewasstillgaseousorliquid，whenthemoonwassolidifiedbycooling，andhadbecomehabitable。"
　　"Ibelieveit，"saidNicholl。
　　"Then，"continuedBarbicane，"anatmospheresurroundedit，thewaterscontainedwithinthisgaseousenvelopecouldnotevaporate。
　　Undertheinfluenceofair，water，light，solarheat，andcentralheat，vegetationtookpossessionofthecontinentspreparedtoreceiveit，andcertainlylifeshoweditselfaboutthisperiod，fornaturedoesnotexpendherselfinvain;andaworldsowonderfullyformedforhabitationmustnecessarilybeinhabited。"
　　"But，"saidNicholl，"manyphenomenainherentinoursatellitemightcramptheexpansionoftheanimalandvegetablekingdom。
　　Forexample，itsdaysandnightsof354hours？"
　　"Attheterrestrialpolestheylastsixmonths，"saidMichel。
　　"Anargumentoflittlevalue，sincethepolesarenotinhabited。"
　　"Letusobserve，myfriends，"continuedBarbicane，"thatifintheactualstateofthemoonitslongnightsandlongdayscreateddifferencesoftemperatureinsupportabletoorganization，itwasnotsoatthehistoricalperiodoftime。
　　Theatmosphereenvelopedthediscwithafluidmantle;vapordepositeditselfintheshapeofclouds;thisnaturalscreentemperedtheardorofthesolarrays，andretainedthenocturnalradiation。Light，likeheat，candiffuseitselfintheair;henceanequalitybetweentheinfluenceswhichnolongerexists，nowthatatmospherehasalmostentirelydisappeared。
　　AndnowIamgoingtoastonishyou。"
　　"Astonishus？"saidMichelArdan。
　　"Ifirmlybelievethatattheperiodwhenthemoonwasinhabited，thenightsanddaysdidnotlast354hours！"
　　"Andwhy？"askedNichollquickly。
　　"Becausemostprobablythentherotarymotionofthemoonuponheraxiswasnotequaltoherrevolution，anequalitywhichpresentseachpartofherdiscduringfifteendaystotheactionofthesolarrays。"
　　"Granted，"repliedNicholl，"butwhyshouldnotthesetwomotionshavebeenequal，astheyarereallyso？"
　　"Becausethatequalityhasonlybeendeterminedbyterrestrialattraction。Andwhocansaythatthisattractionwaspowerfulenoughtoalterthemotionofthemoonatthatperiodwhentheearthwasstillfluid？"
　　"Justso，"repliedNicholl;"andwhocansaythatthemoonhasalwaysbeenasatelliteoftheearth？"
　　"Andwhocansay，"exclaimedMichelArdan，"thatthemoondidnotexistbeforetheearth？"
　　Theirimaginationscarriedthemawayintoanindefinitefieldofhypothesis。Barbicanesoughttorestrainthem。
　　"Thosespeculationsaretoohigh，"saidhe;"problemsutterlyinsoluble。Donotletusenteruponthem。Letusonlyadmittheinsufficiencyoftheprimordialattraction;andthenbytheinequalityofthetwomotionsofrotationandrevolution，thedaysandnightscouldhavesucceededeachotheronthemoonastheysucceedeachotherontheearth。Besides，evenwithouttheseconditions，lifewaspossible。"
　　"Andso，"askedMichelArdan，"humanityhasdisappearedfromthemoon？"
　　"Yes，"repliedBarbicane，"afterhavingdoubtlessremainedpersistentlyformillionsofcenturies;bydegreestheatmospherebecomingrarefied，thediscbecameuninhabitable，astheterrestrialglobewillonedaybecomebycooling。"
　　"Bycooling？"
　　"Certainly，"repliedBarbicane;"astheinternalfiresbecameextinguished，andtheincandescentmatterconcentrateditself，thelunarcrustcooled。Bydegreestheconsequencesofthesephenomenashowedthemselvesinthedisappearanceoforganizedbeings，andbythedisappearanceofvegetation。Soontheatmospherewasrarefied，probablywithdrawnbyterrestrialattraction;thenaerialdepartureofrespirableair，anddisappearanceofwaterbymeansofevaporation。Atthisperiodthemoonbecominguninhabitable，wasnolongerinhabited。
　　Itwasadeadworld，suchasweseeitto—day。"
　　"Andyousaythatthesamefateisinstorefortheearth？"
　　"Mostprobably。"
　　"Butwhen？"
　　"Whenthecoolingofitscrustshallhavemadeituninhabitable。"
　　"Andhavetheycalculatedthetimewhichourunfortunatespherewilltaketocool？"
　　"Certainly。"
　　"Andyouknowthesecalculations？"
　　"Perfectly。"
　　"Butspeak，then，myclumsysavant，"exclaimedMichelArdan，"foryoumakemeboilwithimpatience！"
　　"Verywell，mygoodMichel，"repliedBarbicanequietly;"weknowwhatdiminutionoftemperaturetheearthundergoesinthelapseofacentury。Andaccordingtocertaincalculations，thismeantemperaturewillafteraperiodof400，000years，bebroughtdowntozero！"
　　"Fourhundredthousandyears！"exclaimedMichel。"Ah！I
　　breatheagain。ReallyIwasfrightenedtohearyou;Iimaginedthatwehadnotmorethan50，000yearstolive。"
　　BarbicaneandNichollcouldnothelplaughingattheircompanion’suneasiness。ThenNicholl，whowishedtoendthediscussion，putthesecondquestion，whichhadjustbeenconsideredagain。
　　"Hasthemoonbeeninhabited？"heasked。
　　Theanswerwasunanimouslyintheaffirmative。Butduringthisdiscussion，fruitfulinsomewhathazardoustheories，theprojectilewasrapidlyleavingthemoon：thelineamentsfadedawayfromthetravelers’eyes，mountainswereconfusedinthedistance;andofallthewonderful，strange，andfantasticalformoftheearth’ssatellite，theresoonremainednothingbuttheimperishableremembrance。
　　CHAPTERXIX
　　ASTRUGGLEAGAINSTTHEIMPOSSIBLE
　　ForalongtimeBarbicaneandhiscompanionslookedsilentlyandsadlyuponthatworldwhichtheyhadonlyseenfromadistance，asMosessawthelandofCanaan，andwhichtheywereleavingwithoutapossibilityofeverreturningtoit。Theprojectile’spositionwithregardtothemoonhadaltered，andthebasewasnowturnedtotheearth。
　　Thischange，whichBarbicaneverified，didnotfailtosurprisethem。
　　Iftheprojectilewastogravitateroundthesatelliteinanellipticalorbit，whywasnotitsheaviestpartturnedtowardit，asthemoonturnsherstotheearth？Thatwasadifficultpoint。
　　Inwatchingthecourseoftheprojectiletheycouldseethatonleavingthemoonitfollowedacourseanalogoustothattracedinapproachingher。Itwasdescribingaverylongellipse，whichwouldmostlikelyextendtothepointofequalattraction，wheretheinfluencesoftheearthanditssatelliteareneutralized。
　　SuchwastheconclusionwhichBarbicaneveryjustlydrewfromfactsalreadyobserved，aconvictionwhichhistwofriendssharedwithhim。
　　"Andwhenarrivedatthisdeadpoint，whatwillbecomeofus？"
　　askedMichelArdan。
　　"Wedon’tknow，"repliedBarbicane。
　　"Butonecandrawsomehypotheses，Isuppose？"
　　"Two，"answeredBarbicane;"eithertheprojectile’sspeedwillbeinsufficient，anditwillremainforeverimmovableonthislineofdoubleattraction————"
　　"Iprefertheotherhypothesis，whateveritmaybe，"interruptedMichel。
　　"Or，"continuedBarbicane，"itsspeedwillbesufficient，anditwillcontinueitsellipticalcourse，togravitateforeveraroundtheorbofnight。"
　　"Arevolutionnotatallconsoling，"saidMichel，"topasstothestateofhumbleservantstoamoonwhomweareaccustomedtolookuponasourownhandmaid。Sothatisthefateinstoreforus？"
　　NeitherBarbicanenorNichollanswered。
　　"Youdonotanswer，"continuedMichelimpatiently。
　　"Thereisnothingtoanswer，"saidNicholl。
　　"Istherenothingtotry？"
　　"No，"answeredBarbicane。"Doyoupretendtofightagainsttheimpossible？"
　　"Whynot？DooneFrenchmanandtwoAmericansshrinkfromsuchaword？"
　　"Butwhatwouldyoudo？"
　　"Subduethismotionwhichisbearingusaway。"
　　"Subdueit？"
　　"Yes，"continuedMichel，gettinganimated，"orelsealterit，andemployittotheaccomplishmentofourownends。"
　　"Andhow？"
　　"Thatisyouraffair。Ifartillerymenarenotmastersoftheirprojectiletheyarenotartillerymen。Iftheprojectileistocommandthegunner，wehadbetterramthegunnerintothegun。
　　Myfaith！finesavants！whodonotknowwhatistobecomeofusafterinducingme————"
　　"Inducingyou！"criedBarbicaneandNicholl。"Inducingyou！
　　Whatdoyoumeanbythat？"
　　"Norecrimination，"saidMichel。"Idonotcomplain，thetriphaspleasedme，andtheprojectileagreeswithme;butletusdoallthatishumanlypossibletodothefallsomewhere，evenifonlyonthemoon。"
　　"Weasknobetter，myworthyMichel，"repliedBarbicane，"butmeansfailus。"
　　"Wecannotalterthemotionoftheprojectile？"
　　"No。"
　　"Nordiminishitsspeed？"
　　"No。"
　　"Notevenbylighteningit，astheylightenanoverloadedvessel？"
　　"Whatwouldyouthrowout？"saidNicholl。"Wehavenoballastonboard;andindeeditseemstomethatiflighteneditwouldgomuchquicker。"
　　"Slower。"
　　"Quicker。"
　　"Neitherslowernorquicker，"saidBarbicane，wishingtomakehistwofriendsagree;"forwefloatisspace，andmustnolongerconsiderspecificweight。"
　　"Verywell，"criedMichelArdaninadecidedvoice;"thentheirremainsbutonethingtodo。"
　　"Whatisit？"askedNicholl。
　　"Breakfast，"answeredthecool，audaciousFrenchman，whoalwaysbroughtupthissolutionatthemostdifficultjuncture。
　　Inanycase，ifthisoperationhadnoinfluenceontheprojectile’scourse，itcouldatleastbetriedwithoutinconvenience，andevenwithsuccessfromastomachicpointofview。CertainlyMichelhadnonebutgoodideas。
　　Theybreakfastedthenattwointhemorning;thehourmatteredlittle。
　　Michelservedhisusualrepast，crownedbyagloriousbottledrawnfromhisprivatecellar。Ifideasdidnotcrowdontheirbrains，wemustdespairoftheChambertinof1853。Therepastfinished，observationbeganagain。Aroundtheprojectile，ataninvariabledistance，weretheobjectswhichhadbeenthrownout。Evidently，initstranslatorymotionroundthemoon，ithadnotpassedthroughanyatmosphere，forthespecificweightofthesedifferentobjectswouldhavecheckedtheirrelativespeed。
　　Onthesideoftheterrestrialspherenothingwastobeseen。
　　Theearthwasbutadayold，havingbeennewthenightbeforeattwelve;andtwodaysmustelapsebeforeitscrescent，freedfromthesolarrays，wouldserveasaclocktotheSelenites，asinitsrotarymovementeachofitspointsaftertwenty—fourhoursrepassesthesamelunarmeridian。
　　Onthemoon’ssidethesightwasdifferent;theorbshoneinallhersplendoramidinnumerableconstellations，whosepuritycouldnotbetroubledbyherrays。Onthedisc，theplainswerealreadyreturningtothedarktintwhichisseenfromtheearth。
　　Theotherpartofthenimbusremainedbrilliant，andinthemidstofthisgeneralbrilliancyTychoshoneprominentlylikeasun。
　　Barbicanehadnomeansofestimatingtheprojectile’sspeed，butreasoningshowedthatitmustuniformlydecrease，accordingtothelawsofmechanicalreasoning。Havingadmittedthattheprojectilewasdescribinganorbitaroundthemoon，thisorbitmustnecessarilybeelliptical;scienceprovesthatitmustbeso。
　　Nomotivebodycirculatingroundanattractingbodyfailsinthislaw。Everyorbitdescribedinspaceiselliptical。AndwhyshouldtheprojectileoftheGunClubescapethisnaturalarrangement？
　　Inellipticalorbits，theattractingbodyalwaysoccupiesoneofthefoci;sothatatonemomentthesatelliteisnearer，andatanotherfartherfromtheorbaroundwhichitgravitates。Whentheearthisnearestthesunsheisinherperihelion;andinheraphelionatthefarthestpoint。Speakingofthemoon，sheisnearesttotheearthinherperigee，andfarthestfromitinherapogee。Touseanalogousexpressions，withwhichtheastronomers’languageisenriched，iftheprojectileremainsasasatelliteofthemoon，wemustsaythatitisinits"aposelene"atitsfarthestpoint，andinits"periselene"atitsnearest。Inthelattercase，theprojectilewouldattainitsmaximumofspeed;andintheformeritsminimum。Itwasevidentlymovingtowarditsaposeleniticalpoint;andBarbicanehadreasontothinkthatitsspeedwoulddecreaseuptothispoint，andthenincreasebydegreesasitnearedthemoon。
　　Thisspeedwouldevenbecome_nil_，ifthispointjoinedthatofequalattraction。Barbicanestudiedtheconsequencesofthesedifferentsituations，andthinkingwhatinferencehecoulddrawfromthem，whenhewasroughlydisturbedbyacryfromMichelArdan。
　　"ByJove！"heexclaimed，"Imustadmitwearedown—rightsimpletons！"
　　"Idonotsaywearenot，"repliedBarbicane;"butwhy？"
　　"Becausewehaveaverysimplemeansofcheckingthisspeedwhichisbearingusfromthemoon，andwedonotuseit！"
　　"Andwhatisthemeans？"
　　"Tousetherecoilcontainedinourrockets。"
　　"Done！"saidNicholl。
　　"Wehavenotusedthisforceyet，"saidBarbicane，"itistrue，butwewilldoso。"
　　"When？"askedMichel。
　　"Whenthetimecomes。Observe，myfriends，thatinthepositionoccupiedbytheprojectile，anobliquepositionwithregardtothelunardisc，ourrockets，inslightlyalteringitsdirection，mightturnitfromthemooninsteadofdrawingitnearer？"
　　"Justso，"repliedMichel。
　　"Letuswait，then。Bysomeinexplicableinfluence，theprojectileisturningitsbasetowardtheearth。Itisprobablethatatthepointofequalattraction，itsconicalcapwillbedirectedrigidlytowardthemoon;atthatmomentwemayhopethatitsspeedwillbe_nil_;thenwillbethemomenttoact，andwiththeinfluenceofourrocketswemayperhapsprovokeafalldirectlyonthesurfaceofthelunardisc。"
　　"Bravo！"saidMichel。"Whatwedidnotdo，whatwecouldnotdoonourfirstpassageatthedeadpoint，becausetheprojectilewasthenendowedwithtoogreataspeed。"
　　"Verywellreasoned，"saidNicholl。
　　"Letuswaitpatiently，"continuedBarbicane。"Puttingeverychanceonourside，andafterhavingsomuchdespaired，ImaysayIthinkweshallgainourend。"
　　ThisconclusionwasasignalforMichelArdan’shipsandhurrahs。
　　Andnoneoftheaudaciousboobiesrememberedthequestionthattheythemselveshadsolvedinthenegative。No！themoonisnotinhabited;no！themoonisprobablynothabitable。Andyettheyweregoingtotryeverythingtoreachher。
　　Onesinglequestionremainedtobesolved。Atwhatprecisemomenttheprojectilewouldreachthepointofequalattraction，onwhichthetravelersmustplaytheirlastcard。Inordertocalculatethistowithinafewseconds，Barbicanehadonlytorefertohisnotes，andtoreckonthedifferentheightstakenonthelunarparallels。Thusthetimenecessarytotraveloverthedistancebetweenthedeadpointandthesouthpolewouldbeequaltothedistanceseparatingthenorthpolefromthedeadpoint。
　　Thehoursrepresentingthetimetraveledoverwerecarefullynoted，andthecalculationwaseasy。Barbicanefoundthatthispointwouldbereachedatoneinthemorningonthenightofthe7th—8thofDecember。Sothat，ifnothinginterferedwithitscourse，itwouldreachthegivenpointintwenty—twohours。
　　Therocketshadprimarilybeenplacedtocheckthefalloftheprojectileuponthemoon，andnowtheyweregoingtoemploythemforadirectlycontrarypurpose。Inanycasetheywereready，andtheyhadonlytowaitforthemomenttosetfiretothem。
　　"Sincethereisnothingelsetobedone，"saidNicholl，"Imakeaproposition。"
　　"Whatisit？"askedBarbicane。
　　"Iproposetogotosleep。"
　　"Whatamotion！"exclaimedMichelArdan。
　　"Itisfortyhourssinceweclosedoureyes，"saidNicholl。
　　"Somehoursofsleepwillrestoreourstrength。"
　　"Never，"interruptedMichel。
　　"Well，"continuedNicholl，"everyonetohistaste;Ishallgotosleep。"Andstretchinghimselfonthedivan，hesoonsnoredlikeaforty—eightpounder。
　　"ThatNichollhasagooddealofsense，"saidBarbicane;
　　"presentlyIshallfollowhisexample。"Somemomentsafterhiscontinuedbasssupportedthecaptain’sbaritone。
　　"Certainly，"saidMichelArdan，findinghimselfalone，"thesepracticalpeoplehavesometimesmostopportuneideas。"
　　Andwithhislonglegsstretchedout，andhisgreatarmsfoldedunderhishead，Michelsleptinhisturn。
　　Butthissleepcouldbeneitherpeacefulnorlasting，themindsofthesethreemenweretoomuchoccupied，andsomehoursafter，aboutseveninthemorning，allthreewereonfootatthesameinstant。
　　Theprojectilewasstillleavingthemoon，andturningitsconicalpartmoreandmoretowardher。
　　Anexplicablephenomenon，butonewhichhappilyservedBarbicane’sends。
　　Seventeenhoursmore，andthemomentforactionwouldhavearrived。
　　Thedayseemedlong。Howeverboldthetravelersmightbe，theyweregreatlyimpressedbytheapproachofthatmomentwhichwoulddecideall——eitherprecipitatetheirfallontothemoon，orforeverchaintheminanimmutableorbit。Theycountedthehoursastheypassedtooslowfortheirwish;BarbicaneandNichollwereobstinatelyplungedintheircalculations，Michelgoingandcomingbetweenthenarrowwalls，andwatchingthatimpassivemoonwithalongingeye。
　　Attimesrecollectionsoftheearthcrossedtheirminds。TheysawoncemoretheirfriendsoftheGunClub，andthedearestofall，J。T。Maston。Atthatmoment，thehonorablesecretarymustbefillinghispostontheRockyMountains。Ifhecouldseetheprojectilethroughtheglassofhisgigantictelescope，whatwouldhethink？Afterseeingitdisappearbehindthemoon’ssouthpole，hewouldseethemreappearbythenorthpole！
　　Theymustthereforebeasatelliteofasatellite！HadJ。T。
　　Mastongiventhisunexpectednewstotheworld？Wasthisthe_denouement_ofthisgreatenterprise？
　　Butthedaypassedwithoutincident。Theterrestrialmidnightarrived。The8thofDecemberwasbeginning。
　　Onehourmore，andthepointofequalattractionwouldbereached。Whatspeedwouldthenanimatetheprojectile？
　　Theycouldnotestimateit。ButnoerrorcouldvitiateBarbicane’scalculations。Atoneinthemorningthisspeedoughttobeandwouldbe_nil_。
　　Besides，anotherphenomenonwouldmarktheprojectile’sstopping—pointontheneutralline。Atthatspotthetwoattractions，lunarandterrestrial，wouldbeannulled。
　　Objectswould"weigh"nomore。Thissingularfact，whichhadsurprisedBarbicaneandhiscompanionssomuchingoing，wouldberepeatedontheirreturnundertheverysameconditions。
　　Atthisprecisemomenttheymustact。
　　Alreadytheprojectile’sconicaltopwassensiblyturnedtowardthelunardisc，presentedinsuchawayastoutilizethewholeoftherecoilproducedbythepressureoftherocketapparatus。
　　Thechanceswereinfavorofthetravelers。Ifitsspeedwasutterlyannulledonthisdeadpoint，adecidedmovementtowardthemoonwouldsuffice，howeverslight，todetermineitsfall。
　　"Fiveminutestoone，"saidNicholl。
　　"Allisready，"repliedMichelArdan，directingalightedmatchtotheflameofthegas。
　　"Wait！"saidBarbicane，holdinghischronometerinhishand。
　　Atthatmomentweighthadnoeffect。Thetravelersfeltinthemselvestheentiredisappearanceofit。Theywereveryneartheneutralpoint，iftheydidnottouchit。
　　"Oneo’clock，"saidBarbicane。
　　MichelArdanappliedthelightedmatchtoatrainincommunicationwiththerockets。Nodetonationwasheardintheinside，fortherewasnoair。But，throughthescuttles，Barbicanesawaprolongedsmoke，theflamesofwhichwereimmediatelyextinguished。
　　Theprojectilesustainedacertainshock，whichwassensiblyfeltintheinterior。
　　Thethreefriendslookedandlistenedwithoutspeaking，andscarcelybreathing。Onemighthaveheardthebeatingoftheirheartsamidthisperfectsilence。
　　"Arewefalling？"askedMichelArdan，atlength。
　　"No，"saidNicholl，"sincethebottomoftheprojectileisnotturningtothelunardisc！"
　　Atthismoment，Barbicane，quittinghisscuttle，turnedtohistwocompanions。Hewasfrightfullypale，hisforeheadwrinkled，andhislipscontracted。
　　"Wearefalling！"saidhe。
　　"Ah！"criedMichelArdan，"ontothemoon？"
　　"Ontotheearth！"
　　"Thedevil！"exclaimedMichelArdan，addingphilosophically，"well，whenwecameintothisprojectilewewereverydoubtfulastotheeasewithwhichweshouldgetoutofit！"
　　Andnowthisfearfulfallhadbegun。Thespeedretainedhadbornetheprojectilebeyondthedeadpoint。Theexplosionoftherocketscouldnotdivertitscourse。Thisspeedingoinghadcarrieditovertheneutralline，andinreturninghaddonethesamething。Thelawsofphysicscondemnedit_topassthrougheverypointwhichithadalreadygonethrough_。Itwasaterriblefall，fromaheightof160，000miles，andnospringstobreakit。Accordingtothelawsofgunnery，theprojectilemuststriketheearthwithaspeedequaltothatwithwhichitleftthemouthoftheColumbiad，aspeedof16，000yardsinthelastsecond。
　　Buttogivesomefiguresofcomparison，ithasbeenreckonedthatanobjectthrownfromthetopofthetowersofNotreDame，theheightofwhichisonly200feet，willarriveonthepavementataspeedof240milesperhour。Heretheprojectilemuststriketheearthwithaspeedof115，200milesperhour。
　　"Wearelost！"saidMichelcoolly。
　　"Verywell！ifwedie，"answeredBarbicane，withasortofreligiousenthusiasm，"theresultsofourtravelswillbemagnificentlyspread。ItisHisownsecretthatGodwilltellus！Intheotherlifethesoulwillwanttoknownothing，eitherofmachinesorengines！Itwillbeidentifiedwitheternalwisdom！"
　　"Infact，"interruptedMichelArdan，"thewholeoftheotherworldmaywellconsoleusforthelossofthatinferiororbcalledthemoon！"
　　Barbicanecrossedhisarmsonhisbreast，withamotionofsublimeresignation，sayingatthesametime：
　　"Thewillofheavenbedone！"