第5章
CHAPTERXVI
THESOUTHERNHEMISPHERE
Theprojectilehadjustescapedaterribledanger，andaveryunforseenone。Whowouldhavethoughtofsuchanencounterwithmeteors？Theseerringbodiesmightcreateseriousperilsforthetravelers。Theyweretothemsomanysandbanksuponthatseaofetherwhich，lessfortunatethansailors，theycouldnotescape。Butdidtheseadventurerscomplainofspace？No，notsincenaturehadgiventhemthesplendidsightofacosmicalmeteorburstingfromexpansion，sincethisinimitablefirework，whichnoRuggiericouldimitate，hadlitupforsomesecondstheinvisiblegloryofthemoon。Inthatflash，continents，seas，andforestshadbecomevisibletothem。Didanatmosphere，then，bringtothisunknownfaceitslife—givingatoms？
Questionsstillinsoluble，andforeverclosedagainsthumancuriousity！
Itwasthenhalf—pastthreeintheafternoon。Theprojectilewasfollowingitscurvilineardirectionroundthemoon。Haditscourseagainbeenalteredbythemeteor？Itwastobefearedso。
Buttheprojectilemustdescribeacurveunalterablydeterminedbythelawsofmechanicalreasoning。Barbicanewasinclinedtobelievethatthiscurvewouldberatheraparabolathanahyperbola。
Butadmittingtheparabola，theprojectilemustquicklyhavepassedthroughtheconeofshadowprojectedintospaceoppositethesun。Thiscone，indeed，isverynarrow，theangulardiameterofthemoonbeingsolittlewhencomparedwiththediameteroftheorbofday;anduptothistimetheprojectilehadbeenfloatinginthisdeepshadow。Whateverhadbeenitsspeed（anditcouldnothavebeeninsignificant），itsperiodofoccultationcontinued。Thatwasevident，butperhapsthatwouldnothavebeenthecaseinasupposedlyrigidlyparabolicaltrajectory——anewproblemwhichtormentedBarbicane’sbrain，imprisonedashewasinacircleofunknownswhichhecouldnotunravel。
Neitherofthetravelersthoughtoftakinganinstant’srepose。
Eachonewatchedforanunexpectedfact，whichmightthrowsomenewlightontheiruranographicstudies。Aboutfiveo’clock，MichelArdandistributed，underthenameofdinner，somepiecesofbreadandcoldmeat，whichwerequicklyswallowedwithouteitherofthemabandoningtheirscuttle，theglassofwhichwasincessantlyencrustedbythecondensationofvapor。
Aboutforty—fiveminutespastfiveintheevening，Nicholl，armedwithhisglass，sightedtowardthesouthernborderofthemoon，andinthedirectionfollowedbytheprojectile，somebrightpointscutuponthedarkshieldofthesky。Theylookedlikeasuccessionofsharppointslengthenedintoatremulousline。
Theywereverybright。Suchappearedtheterminallineofthemoonwheninoneofheroctants。
Theycouldnotbemistaken。Itwasnolongerasimplemeteor。
Thisluminousridgehadneithercolornormotion。Norwasitavolcanoineruption。AndBarbicanedidnothesitatetopronounceuponit。
"Thesun！"heexclaimed。
"What！thesun？"answeredNichollandMichelArdan。
"Yes，myfriends，itistheradiantorbitselflightingupthesummitofthemountainssituatedonthesouthernbordersofthemoon。Weareevidentlynearingthesouthpole。"
"Afterhavingpassedthenorthpole，"repliedMichel。"Wehavemadethecircuitofoursatellite，then？"
"Yes，mygoodMichel。"
"Then，nomorehyperbolas，nomoreparabolas，nomoreopencurvestofear？"
"No，butaclosedcurve。"
"Whichiscalled————"
"Anellipse。Insteadoflosingitselfininterplanetaryspace，itisprobablethattheprojectilewilldescribeanellipticalorbitaroundthemoon。"
"Indeed！"
"Andthatitwillbecome_her_satellite。"
"Moonofthemoon！"criedMichelArdan。
"Only，Iwouldhaveyouobserve，myworthyfriend，"repliedBarbicane，"thatwearenonethelesslostforthat。"
"Yes，inanothermanner，andmuchmorepleasantly，"answeredthecarelessFrenchmanwithhismostamiablesmile。
CHAPTERXVII
TYCHO
Atsixintheeveningtheprojectilepassedthesouthpoleatlessthanfortymilesoff，adistanceequaltothatalreadyreachedatthenorthpole。Theellipticalcurvewasbeingrigidlycarriedout。
Atthismomentthetravelersoncemoreenteredtheblessedraysofthesun。Theysawoncemorethosestarswhichmoveslowlyfromeasttowest。Theradiantorbwassalutedbyatriplehurrah。
Withitslightitalsosentheat，whichsoonpiercedthemetalwalls。
Theglassresumeditsaccustomedappearance。Thelayersoficemeltedasifbyenchantment;andimmediately，foreconomy’ssake，thegaswasputout，theairapparatusaloneconsumingitsusualquantity。
"Ah！"saidNicholl，"theseraysofheataregood。WithwhatimpatiencemusttheSeleniteswaitthereappearanceoftheorbofday。"
"Yes，"repliedMichelArdan，"imbibingasitwerethebrilliantether，lightandheat，alllifeiscontainedinthem。"
Atthismomentthebottomoftheprojectiledeviatedsomewhatfromthelunarsurface，inordertofollowtheslightlylengthenedellipticalorbit。Fromthispoint，hadtheearthbeenatthefull，Barbicaneandhiscompanionscouldhaveseenit，butimmersedinthesun’sirradiationshewasquiteinvisible。Anotherspectacleattractedtheirattention，thatofthesouthernpartofthemoon，broughtbytheglassestowithin450yards。Theydidnotagainleavethescuttles，andnotedeverydetailofthisfantasticalcontinent。
MountsDoerfulandLeibnitzformedtwoseparategroupsverynearthesouthpole。Thefirstgroupextendedfromthepoletotheeighty—fourthparallel，ontheeasternpartoftheorb;thesecondoccupiedtheeasternborder，extendingfromthe65@oflatitudetothepole。
Ontheircapriciouslyformedridgeappeareddazzlingsheets，asmentionedbyPereSecchi。WithmorecertaintythantheillustriousRomanastronomer，Barbicanewasenabledtorecognizetheirnature。
"Theyaresnow，"heexclaimed。
"Snow？"repeatedNicholl。
"Yes，Nicholl，snow;thesurfaceofwhichisdeeplyfrozen。
Seehowtheyreflecttheluminousrays。Cooledlavawouldnevergiveoutsuchintensereflection。Theremustthenbewater，theremustbeaironthemoon。Aslittleasyouplease，butthefactcannolongerbecontested。"No，itcouldnotbe。AndifeverBarbicaneshouldseetheearthagain，hisnoteswillbearwitnesstothisgreatfactinhisselenographicobservations。
ThesemountainsofDoerfulandLeibnitzroseinthemidstofplainsofamediumextent，whichwereboundedbyanindefinitesuccessionofcirclesandannularramparts。Thesetwochainsaretheonlyonesmetwithinthisregionofcircles。
Comparativelybutslightlymarked，theythrowuphereandtheresomesharppoints，thehighestsummitofwhichattainsanaltitudeof24，600feet。
Buttheprojectilewashighaboveallthislandscape，andtheprojectionsdisappearedintheintensebrilliancyofthedisc。
Andtotheeyesofthetravelerstherereappearedthatoriginalaspectofthelunarlandscapes，rawintone，withoutgradationofcolors，andwithoutdegreesofshadow，roughlyblackandwhite，fromthewantofdiffusionoflight。
Butthesightofthisdesolateworlddidnotfailtocaptivatethembyitsverystrangeness。Theyweremovingoverthisregionasiftheyhadbeenborneonthebreathofsomestorm，watchingheightsdefileundertheirfeet，piercingthecavitieswiththeireyes，goingdownintotherifts，climbingtheramparts，soundingthesemysteriousholes，andlevelingallcracks。Butnotraceofvegetation，noappearanceofcities;nothingbutstratification，bedsoflava，overflowingspolishedlikeimmensemirrors，reflectingthesun’srayswithoverpoweringbrilliancy。
Nothingbelongingtoa_living_world——everythingtoadeadworld，whereavalanches，rollingfromthesummitsofthemountains，woulddispersenoiselesslyatthebottomoftheabyss，retainingthemotion，butwantingthesound。Inanycaseitwastheimageofdeath，withoutitsbeingpossibleeventosaythatlifehadeverexistedthere。
MichelArdan，however，thoughtherecognizedaheapofruins，towhichhedrewBarbicane’sattention。Itwasaboutthe80thparallel，in30@longitude。Thisheapofstones，ratherregularlyplaced，representedavastfortress，overlookingalongrift，whichinformerdayshadservedasabedtotheriversofprehistoricaltimes。Notfarfromthat，rosetoaheightof17，400feettheannularmountainofShort，equaltotheAsiaticCaucasus。MichelArdan，withhisaccustomedardor，maintained"theevidences"ofhisfortress。Beneathithediscernedthedismantledrampartsofatown;herethestillintactarchofaportico，theretwoorthreecolumnslyingundertheirbase;fartheron，asuccessionofarcheswhichmusthavesupportedtheconduitofanaqueduct;inanotherpartthesunkenpillarsofagiganticbridge，runintothethickestpartsoftherift。Hedistinguishedallthis，butwithsomuchimaginationinhisglance，andthroughglassessofantastical，thatwemustmistrusthisobservation。Butwhocouldaffirm，whowoulddaretosay，thattheamiablefellowdidnotreallyseethatwhichhistwocompanionswouldnotsee？
Momentsweretooprecioustobesacrificedinidlediscussion。
Theselenitecity，whetherimaginaryornot，hadalreadydisappearedafaroff。Thedistanceoftheprojectilefromthelunardiscwasontheincrease，andthedetailsofthesoilwerebeinglostinaconfusedjumble。Thereliefs，thecircles，thecraters，andtheplainsaloneremained，andstillshowedtheirboundarylinesdistinctly。Atthismoment，totheleft，layextendedoneofthefinestcirclesoflunarorography，oneofthecuriositiesofthiscontinent。ItwasNewton，whichBarbicanerecognizedwithouttrouble，byreferringtothe_MappaSelenographica_。
Newtonissituatedinexactly77@southlatitude，and16@
eastlongitude。Itformsanannularcrater，therampartsofwhich，risingtoaheightof21，300feet，seemedtobeimpassable。
Barbicanemadehiscompanionsobservethattheheightofthismountainabovethesurroundingplainwasfarfromequalingthedepthofitscrater。Thisenormousholewasbeyondallmeasurement，andformedagloomyabyss，thebottomofwhichthesun’srayscouldneverreach。There，accordingtoHumboldt，reignsutterdarkness，whichthelightofthesunandtheearthcannotbreak。Mythologistscouldwellhavemadeitthemouthofhell。
"Newton，"saidBarbicane，"isthemostperfecttypeoftheseannularmountains，ofwhichtheearthpossessesnosample。
Theyprovethatthemoon’sformation，bymeansofcooling，isduetoviolentcauses;forwhile，underthepressureofinternalfiresthereliefsrisetoconsiderableheight，thedepthswithdrawfarbelowthelunarlevel。"
"Idonotdisputethefact，"repliedMichelArdan。
SomeminutesafterpassingNewton，theprojectiledirectlyoverlookedtheannularmountainsofMoret。ItskirtedatsomedistancethesummitsofBlancanus，andatabouthalf—pastsevenintheeveningreachedthecircleofClavius。
Thiscircle，oneofthemostremarkableofthedisc，issituatedin58@southlatitude，and15@eastlongitude。Itsheightisestimatedat22，950feet。Thetravelers，atadistanceoftwenty—fourmiles（reducedtofourbytheirglasses）couldadmirethisvastcraterinitsentirety。
"Terrestrialvolcanoes，"saidBarbicane，"arebutmole—hillscomparedwiththoseofthemoon。MeasuringtheoldcratersformedbythefirsteruptionsofVesuviusandEtna，wefindthemlittlemorethanthreemilesinbreadth。InFrancethecircleofCantalmeasuressixmilesacross;atCeylandthecircleoftheislandisfortymiles，whichisconsideredthelargestontheglobe。WhatarethesediametersagainstthatofClavius，whichweoverlookatthismoment？"
"Whatisitsbreadth？"askedNicholl。
"Itis150miles，"repliedBarbicane。"Thiscircleiscertainlythemostimportantonthemoon，butmanyothersmeasure150，100，or75miles。"
"Ah！myfriends，"exclaimedMichel，"canyoupicturetoyourselveswhatthisnowpeacefulorbofnightmusthavebeenwhenitscraters，filledwiththunderings，vomitedatthesametimesmokeandtonguesofflame。Whatawonderfulspectaclethen，andnowwhatdecay！Thismoonisnothingmorethanathincarcaseoffireworks，whosesquibs，rockets，serpents，andsuns，afterasuperbbrilliancy，haveleftbutsadlybrokencases。
Whocansaythecause，thereason，themotiveforceofthesecataclysms？"
BarbicanewasnotlisteningtoMichelArdan;hewascontemplatingtheserampartsofClavius，formedbylargemountainsspreadoverseveralmiles。Atthebottomoftheimmensecavityburrowedhundredsofsmallextinguishedcraters，riddlingthesoillikeacolander，andoverlookedbyapeak15，000feethigh。
Aroundtheplainappeareddesolate。Nothingsoaridasthesereliefs，nothingsosadastheseruinsofmountains，and（ifwemaysoexpressourselves）thesefragmentsofpeaksandmountainswhichstrewedthesoil。Thesatelliteseemedtohaveburstatthisspot。
Theprojectilewasstilladvancing，andthismovementdidnotsubside。Circles，craters，anduprootedmountainssucceededeachotherincessantly。Nomoreplains;nomoreseas。AneverendingSwitzerlandandNorway。Andlastly，inthecanterofthisregionofcrevasses，themostsplendidmountainonthelunardisc，thedazzlingTycho，inwhichposteritywilleverpreservethenameoftheillustriousDanishastronomer。
Inobservingthefullmooninacloudlessskynoonehasfailedtoremarkthisbrilliantpointofthesouthernhemisphere。
MichelArdanusedeverymetaphorthathisimaginationcouldsupplytodesignateitby。TohimthisTychowasafocusoflight，acenterofirradiation，acratervomitingrays。Itwasthetireofabrilliantwheel，an_asteria_enclosingthediscwithitssilvertentacles，anenormouseyefilledwithflames，aglorycarvedforPluto’shead，astarlaunchedbytheCreator’shand，andcrushedagainstthefaceofthemoon！
Tychoformssuchaconcentrationoflightthattheinhabitantsoftheearthcanseeitwithoutglasses，thoughatadistanceof240，000miles！Imagine，then，itsintensitytotheeyeofobserversplacedatadistanceofonlyfiftymiles！Seenthroughthispureether，itsbrilliancywassointolerablethatBarbicaneandhisfriendswereobligedtoblackentheirglasseswiththegassmokebeforetheycouldbearthesplendor。Thensilent，scarcelyutteringaninterjectionofadmiration，theygazed，theycontemplated。
Alltheirfeelings，alltheirimpressions，wereconcentratedinthatlook，asunderanyviolentemotionalllifeisconcentratedattheheart。
Tychobelongstothesystemofradiatingmountains，likeAristarchusandCopernicus;butitisofallthemostcompleteanddecided，showingunquestionablythefrightfulvolcanicactiontowhichtheformationofthemoonisdue。Tychoissituatedin43@southlatitude，and12@eastlongitude。Itscenterisoccupiedbyacraterfiftymilesbroad。Itassumesaslightlyellipticalform，andissurroundedbyanenclosureofannularramparts，whichontheeastandwestoverlooktheouterplainfromaheightof15，000feet。ItisagroupofMontBlancs，placedroundonecommoncenterandcrownedbyradiatingbeams。
Whatthisincomparablemountainreallyis，withalltheprojectionsconvergingtowardit，andtheinteriorexcrescencesofitscrater，photographyitselfcouldneverrepresent。
Indeed，itisduringthefullmoonthatTychoisseeninallitssplendor。Thenallshadowsdisappear，theforeshorteningofperspectivedisappears，andallproofsbecomewhite——adisagreeablefact：forthisstrangeregionwouldhavebeenmarvelousifreproducedwithphotographicexactness。Itisbutagroupofhollows，craters，circles，anetworkofcrests;
then，asfarastheeyecouldsee，awholevolcanicnetworkcastuponthisencrustedsoil。Onecanthenunderstandthatthebubblesofthiscentraleruptionhavekepttheirfirstform。
Crystallizedbycooling，theyhavestereotypedthataspectwhichthemoonformerlypresentedwhenunderthePlutonianforces。
ThedistancewhichseparatedthetravelersfromtheannularsummitsofTychowasnotsogreatbutthattheycouldcatchtheprincipaldetails。EvenonthecausewayformingthefortificationsofTycho，themountainshangingontotheinteriorandexteriorslopingflanksroseinstorieslikegiganticterraces。Theyappearedtobehigherby300or400
feettothewestthantotheeast。Nosystemofterrestrialencampmentcouldequalthesenaturalfortifications。Atownbuiltatthebottomofthiscircularcavitywouldhavebeenutterlyinaccessible。
Inaccessibleandwonderfullyextendedoverthissoilcoveredwithpicturesqueprojections！Indeed，naturehadnotleftthebottomofthiscraterflatandempty。Itpossesseditsownpeculiarorography，amountainoussystem，makingitaworldinitself。Thetravelerscoulddistinguishclearlycones，centralhills，remarkablepositionsofthesoil，naturallyplacedtoreceivethe_chefs—d’oeuvre_ofSelenitearchitecture。
Therewasmarkedouttheplaceforatemple，herethegroundofaforum，onthisspottheplanofapalace，inanothertheplateauforacitadel;thewholeoverlookedbyacentralmountainof1，500feet。Avastcircle，inwhichancientRomecouldhavebeenheldinitsentiretytentimesover。
"Ah！"exclaimedMichelArdan，enthusiasticatthesight;"whatagrandtownmightbeconstructedwithinthatringofmountains！
Aquietcity，apeacefulrefuge，beyondallhumanmisery。Howcalmandisolatedthosemisanthropes，thosehatersofhumanitymightlivethere，andallwhohaveadistasteforsociallife！"
"All！Itwouldbetoosmallforthem，"repliedBarbicanesimply。
CHAPTERXVIII
GRAVEQUESTIONS
Buttheprojectilehadpassedthe_enceinte_ofTycho，andBarbicaneandhistwocompanionswatchedwithscrupulousattentionthebrilliantrayswhichthecelebratedmountainshedsocuriouslyoverthehorizon。
Whatwasthisradiantglory？Whatgeologicalphenomenonhaddesignedtheseardentbeams？ThisquestionoccupiedBarbicane’smind。
Underhiseyesraninalldirectionsluminousfurrows，raisedattheedgesandconcaveinthecenter，sometwelvemiles，othersthirtymilesbroad。Thesebrillianttrainsextendedinsomeplacestowithin600milesofTycho，andseemedtocover，particularlytowardtheeast，thenortheastandthenorth，thehalfofthesouthernhemisphere。OneofthesejetsextendedasfarasthecircleofNeander，situatedonthe40thmeridian。
Another，byaslightcurve，furrowedthe"SeaofNectar，"breakingagainstthechainofPyrenees，afteracircuitof800miles。
Others，towardthewest，coveredthe"SeaofClouds"andthe"SeaofHumors"withaluminousnetwork。Whatwastheoriginofthesesparklingrays，whichshoneontheplainsaswellasonthereliefs，atwhateverheighttheymightbe？
Allstartedfromacommoncenter，thecraterofTycho。
Theysprangfromhim。Herschelattributedtheirbrilliancytocurrentsoflavacongealedbythecold;anopinion，however，whichhasnotbeengenerallyadopted。Otherastronomershaveseenintheseinexplicableraysakindofmoraines，rowsoferraticblocks，whichhadbeenthrownupattheperiodofTycho’sformation。
"Andwhynot？"askedNichollofBarbicane，whowasrelatingandrejectingthesedifferentopinions。
"Becausetheregularityoftheseluminouslines，andtheviolencenecessarytocarryvolcanicmattertosuchdistances，isinexplicable。"
"Eh！byJove！"repliedMichelArdan，"itseemseasyenoughtometoexplaintheoriginoftheserays。"
"Indeed？"saidBarbicane。
"Indeed，"continuedMichel。"Itisenoughtosaythatitisavaststar，similartothatproducedbyaballorastonethrownatasquareofglass！"
"Well！"repliedBarbicane，smiling。"Andwhathandwouldbepowerfulenoughtothrowaballtogivesuchashockasthat？"
"Thehandisnotnecessary，"answeredNicholl，notatallconfounded;"andastothestone，letussupposeittobeacomet。"
"Ah！thosemuch—abusedcomets！"exclaimedBarbicane。"MybraveMichel，yourexplanationisnotbad;butyourcometisuseless。
Theshockwhichproducedthatrentmusthavesomefromtheinsideofthestar。Aviolentcontractionofthelunarcrust，whilecooling，mightsufficetoimprintthisgiganticstar。"
"Acontraction！somethinglikealunarstomach—ache。"saidMichelArdan。
"Besides，"addedBarbicane，"thisopinionisthatofanEnglishsavant，Nasmyth，anditseemstometosufficientlyexplaintheradiationofthesemountains。"
"ThatNasmythwasnofool！"repliedMichel。
Longdidthetravelers，whomsuchasightcouldneverweary，admirethesplendorsofTycho。Theirprojectile，saturatedwithluminousgleamsinthedoubleirradiationofsunandmoon，musthaveappearedlikeanincandescentglobe。Theyhadpassedsuddenlyfromexcessivecoldtointenseheat。NaturewasthuspreparingthemtobecomeSelenites。BecomeSelenites！Thatideabroughtuponcemorethequestionofthehabitabilityofthemoon。
Afterwhattheyhadseen，couldthetravelerssolveit？Wouldtheydecidefororagainstit？MichelArdanpersuadedhistwofriendstoformanopinion，andaskedthemdirectlyiftheythoughtthatmenandanimalswererepresentedinthelunarworld。
"Ithinkthatwecananswer，"saidBarbicane;"butaccordingtomyideathequestionoughtnottobeputinthatform。Iaskittobeputdifferently。"
"Putityourownway，"repliedMichel。
"Hereitis，"continuedBarbicane。"Theproblemisadoubleone，andrequiresadoublesolution。Isthemoon_habitable_？Hasthemooneverbeen_inhabitable_？"
"Good！"repliedNicholl。"Firstletusseewhetherthemoonishabitable。"
"Totellthetruth，Iknownothingaboutit，"answeredMichel。
"AndIanswerinthenegative，"continuedBarbicane。"Inheractualstate，withhersurroundingatmospherecertainlyverymuchreduced，herseasforthemostpartdriedup，herinsufficientsupplyofwaterrestricted，vegetation，suddenalternationsofcoldandheat，herdaysandnightsof354
hours——themoondoesnotseemhabitabletome，nordoessheseempropitioustoanimaldevelopment，norsufficientforthewantsofexistenceasweunderstandit。"
"Agreed，"repliedNicholl。"Butisnotthemoonhabitableforcreaturesdifferentlyorganizedfromourselves？"
"Thatquestionismoredifficulttoanswer，butIwilltry;andIaskNichollif_motion_appearstohimtobeanecessaryresultof_life_，whateverbeitsorganization？"
"Withoutadoubt！"answeredNicholl。
"Then，myworthycompanion，Iwouldanswerthatwehaveobservedthelunarcontinentatadistanceof500yardsatmost，andthatnothingseemedtoustomoveonthemoon’ssurface。Thepresenceofanykindoflifewouldhavebeenbetrayedbyitsattendantmarks，suchasdiversbuildings，andevenbyruins。Andwhathaveweseen？Everywhereandalwaysthegeologicalworksofnature，nevertheworkofman。If，then，thereexistrepresentativesoftheanimalkingdomonthemoon，theymusthavefledtothoseunfathomablecavitieswhichtheeyecannotreach;whichIcannotadmit，fortheymusthavelefttracesoftheirpassageonthoseplainswhichtheatmospheremustcover，howeverslightlyraiseditmaybe。Thesetracesarenowherevisible。Thereremainsbutonehypothesis，thatofalivingracetowhichmotion，whichislife，isforeign。"
"Onemightaswellsay，livingcreatureswhichdonotlive，"
repliedMichel。
"Justso，"saidBarbicane，"whichforushasnomeaning。"
"Thenwemayformouropinion？"saidMichel。