第7章

CHAPTERXX

THESOUNDINGSOFTHESUSQUEHANNA

Well，lieutenant，andoursoundings？"

"Ithink，sir，thattheoperationisnearingitscompletion，"

repliedLieutenantBronsfield。"Butwhowouldhavethoughtoffindingsuchadepthsonearinshore，andonly200milesfromtheAmericancoast？"

"Certainly，Bronsfield，thereisagreatdepression，"saidCaptainBlomsberry。"InthisspotthereisasubmarinevalleywornbyHumboldt’scurrent，whichskirtsthecoastofAmericaasfarastheStraitsofMagellan。"

"Thesegreatdepths，"continuedthelieutenant，"arenotfavorableforlayingtelegraphiccables。Alevelbottom，likethatsupportingtheAmericancablebetweenValentiaandNewfoundland，ismuchbetter。"

"Iagreewithyou，Bronsfield。Withyourpermission，lieutenant，wherearewenow？"

"Sir，atthismomentwehave3，508fathomsoflineout，andtheballwhichdrawsthesoundingleadhasnotyettouchedthebottom;forifso，itwouldhavecomeupofitself。"

"Brook’sapparatusisveryingenious，"saidCaptainBlomsberry;

"itgivesusveryexactsoundings。"

"Touch！"criedatthismomentoneofthemenattheforewheel，whowassuperintendingtheoperation。

Thecaptainandthelieutenantmountedthequarterdeck。

"Whatdepthhavewe？"askedthecaptain。

"Threethousandsixhundredandtwenty—sevenfathoms，"repliedthelieutenant，enteringitinhisnotebook。

"Well，Bronsfield，"saidthecaptain，"Iwilltakedowntheresult。Nowhaulinthesoundingline。Itwillbetheworkofsomehours。Inthattimetheengineercanlightthefurnaces，andweshallbereadytostartassoonasyouhavefinished。Itisteno’clock，andwithyourpermission，lieutenant，Iwillturnin。"

"Doso，sir;doso！"repliedthelieutenantobligingly。

ThecaptainoftheSusquehanna，asbraveamanasneedbe，andthehumbleservantofhisofficers，returnedtohiscabin，tookabrandy—grog，whichearnedforthestewardnoendofpraise，andturnedin，notwithouthavingcomplimentedhisservantuponhismakingbeds，andsleptapeacefulsleep。

Itwasthentenatnight。TheeleventhdayofthemonthofDecemberwasdrawingtoacloseinamagnificentnight。

TheSusquehanna，acorvetteof500horse—power，oftheUnitedStatesnavy，wasoccupiedintakingsoundingsinthePacificOceanabout200milesofftheAmericancoast，followingthatlongpeninsulawhichstretchesdownthecoastofMexico。

Thewindhaddroppedbydegrees。Therewasnodisturbanceintheair。Thepennanthungmotionlessfromthemaintop—gallant—

masttruck。

CaptainJonathanBlomsberry（cousin—germanofColonelBlomsberry，oneofthemostardentsupportersoftheGunClub，whohadmarriedanauntofthecaptainanddaughterofanhonorableKentuckymerchant）——CaptainBlomsberrycouldnothavewishedforfinerweatherinwhichtobringtoaclosehisdelicateoperationsofsounding。Hiscorvettehadnotevenfeltthegreattempest，whichbysweepingawaythegroupsofcloudsontheRockyMountains，hadallowedthemtoobservethecourseofthefamousprojectile。

Everythingwentwell，andwithallthefervorofaPresbyterian，hedidnotforgettothankheavenforit。TheseriesofsoundingstakenbytheSusquehanna，hadforitsaimthefindingofafavorablespotforthelayingofasubmarinecabletoconnecttheHawaiianIslandswiththecoastofAmerica。

Itwasagreatundertaking，duetotheinstigationofapowerfulcompany。Itsmanagingdirector，theintelligentCyrusField，purposedevencoveringalltheislandsofOceanicawithavastelectricalnetwork，animmenseenterprise，andoneworthyofAmericangenius。

TothecorvetteSusquehannahadbeenconfidedthefirstoperationsofsounding。Itwasonthenightofthe11th—12thofDecember，shewasinexactly27@7’northlatitude，and41@37’

westlongitude，onthemeridianofWashington。

Themoon，theninherlastquarter，wasbeginningtoriseabovethehorizon。

AfterthedepartureofCaptainBlomsberry，thelieutenantandsomeofficerswerestandingtogetheronthepoop。Ontheappearanceofthemoon，theirthoughtsturnedtothatorbwhichtheeyesofawholehemispherewerecontemplating。Thebestnavalglassescouldnothavediscoveredtheprojectilewanderingarounditshemisphere，andyetallwerepointedtowardthatbrilliantdiscwhichmillionsofeyeswerelookingatatthesamemoment。

"Theyhavebeengonetendays，"saidLieutenantBronsfieldatlast。"Whathasbecomeofthem？"

"Theyhavearrived，lieutenant，"exclaimedayoungmidshipman，"andtheyaredoingwhatalltravelersdowhentheyarriveinanewcountry，takingawalk！"

"Oh！Iamsureofthat，ifyoutellmeso，myyoungfriend，"

saidLieutenantBronsfield，smiling。

"But，"continuedanotherofficer，"theirarrivalcannotbedoubted。Theprojectilewastoreachthemoonwhenfullonthe5thatmidnight。Wearenowatthe11thofDecember，whichmakessixdays。Andinsixtimestwenty—fourhours，withoutdarkness，onewouldhavetimetosettlecomfortably。IfancyI

seemybravecountrymenencampedatthebottomofsomevalley，onthebordersofaSelenitestream，nearaprojectilehalf—buriedbyitsfallamidvolcanicrubbish，CaptainNichollbeginninghislevelingoperations，PresidentBarbicanewritingouthisnotes，andMichelArdanembalmingthelunarsolitudeswiththeperfumeofhis————"

"Yes！itmustbeso，itisso！"exclaimedtheyoungmidshipman，workeduptoapitchofenthusiasmbythisidealdescriptionofhissuperiorofficer。

"Ishouldliketobelieveit，"repliedthelieutenant，whowasquiteunmoved。"Unfortunatelydirectnewsfromthelunarworldisstillwanting。"

"Begpardon，lieutenant，"saidthemidshipman，"butcannotPresidentBarbicanewrite？"

Aburstoflaughtergreetedthisanswer。

"Noletters！"continuedtheyoungmanquickly。"Thepostaladministrationhassomethingtoseetothere。"

"Mightitnotbethetelegraphicservicethatisatfault？"

askedoneoftheofficersironically。

"Notnecessarily，"repliedthemidshipman，notatallconfused。

"Butitisveryeasytosetupagraphiccommunicationwiththeearth。"

"Andhow？"

"BymeansofthetelescopeatLong’sPeak。YouknowitbringsthemoontowithinfourmilesoftheRockyMountains，andthatitshowsobjectsonitssurfaceofonlyninefeetindiameter。

Verywell;letourindustriousfriendsconstructagiantalphabet;letthemwritewordsthreefathomslong，andsentencesthreemileslong，andthentheycansendusnewsofthemselves。"

Theyoungmidshipman，whohadacertainamountofimagination，wasloudlyapplauded;LieutenantBronsfieldallowingthattheideawaspossible，butobservingthatifbythesemeanstheycouldreceivenewsfromthelunarworldtheycouldnotsendanyfromtheterrestrial，unlesstheSeleniteshadinstrumentsfitfortakingdistantobservationsattheirdisposal。

"Evidently，"saidoneoftheofficers;"butwhathasbecomeofthetravelers？whattheyhavedone，whattheyhaveseen，thataboveallmustinterestus。Besides，iftheexperimenthassucceeded（whichIdonotdoubt），theywilltryitagain。

TheColumbiadisstillsunkinthesoilofFlorida。Itisnowonlyaquestionofpowderandshot;andeverytimethemoonisatherzenithacargoofvisitorsmaybesenttoher。"

"Itisclear，"repliedLieutenantBronsfield，"thatJ。T。Mastonwillonedayjoinhisfriends。"

"Ifhewillhaveme，"criedthemidshipman，"Iamready！"

"Oh！volunteerswillnotbewanting，"answeredBronsfield;"andifitwereallowed，halfoftheearth’sinhabitantswouldemigratetothemoon！"

ThisconversationbetweentheofficersoftheSusquehannawaskeptupuntilnearlyoneinthemorning。Wecannotsaywhatblunderingsystemswerebroached，whatinconsistenttheoriesadvancedbytheseboldspirits。SinceBarbicane’sattempt，nothingseemedimpossibletotheAmericans。Theyhadalreadydesignedanexpedition，notonlyofsavants，butofawholecolonytowardtheSeleniteborders，andacompletearmy，consistingofinfantry，artillery，andcavalry，toconquerthelunarworld。

Atoneinthemorning，thehaulinginofthesounding—linewasnotyetcompleted;1，670fathomswerestillout，whichwouldentailsomehours’work。Accordingtothecommander’sorders，thefireshadbeenlighted，andsteamwasbeinggotup。

TheSusquehannacouldhavestartedthatveryinstant。

Atthatmoment（itwasseventeenminutespastoneinthemorning）LieutenantBronsfieldwaspreparingtoleavethewatchandreturntohiscabin，whenhisattentionwasattractedbyadistanthissingnoise。Hiscomradesandhimselffirstthoughtthatthishissingwascausedbythelettingoffofsteam;butliftingtheirheads，theyfoundthatthenoisewasproducedinthehighestregionsoftheair。Theyhadnottimetoquestioneachotherbeforethehissingbecamefrightfullyintense，andsuddenlythereappearedtotheirdazzledeyesanenormousmeteor，ignitedbytherapidityofitscourseanditsfrictionthroughtheatmosphericstrata。

Thisfierymassgrewlargertotheireyes，andfell，withthenoiseofthunder，uponthebowsprit，whichitsmashedclosetothestem，andburieditselfinthewaveswithadeafeningroar！

Afewfeetnearer，andtheSusquehannawouldhavefounderedwithallonboard！

AtthisinstantCaptainBlomsberryappeared，half—dressed，andrushingontotheforecastle—deck，whitheralltheofficershadhurried，exclaimed，"Withyourpermission，gentlemen，whathashappened？"

Andthemidshipman，makinghimselfasitweretheechoofthebody，cried，"Commander，itis`they’comebackagain！"

CHAPTERXXI

J。T。MASTONRECALLED

"Itis`they’comebackagain！"theyoungmidshipmanhadsaid，andeveryonehadunderstoodhim。NoonedoubtedbutthatthemeteorwastheprojectileoftheGunClub。Astothetravelerswhichitenclosed，opinionsweredividedregardingtheirfate。

"Theyaredead！"saidone。

"Theyarealive！"saidanother;"thecraterisdeep，andtheshockwasdeadened。"

"Buttheymusthavewantedair，"continuedathirdspeaker;

"theymusthavediedofsuffocation。"

"Burned！"repliedafourth;"theprojectilewasnothingbutanincandescentmassasitcrossedtheatmosphere。"

"Whatdoesitmatter！"theyexclaimedunanimously;"livingordead，wemustpullthemout！"

ButCaptainBlomsberryhadassembledhisofficers，and"withtheirpermission，"washoldingacouncil。Theymustdecideuponsomethingtobedoneimmediately。Themorehastyoneswereforfishinguptheprojectile。Adifficultoperation，thoughnotanimpossibleone。Butthecorvettehadnopropermachinery，whichmustbebothfixedandpowerful;soitwasresolvedthattheyshouldputinatthenearestport，andgiveinformationtotheGunCluboftheprojectile’sfall。

Thisdeterminationwasunanimous。Thechoiceoftheporthadtobediscussed。Theneighboringcoasthadnoanchorageon27@latitude。Higherup，abovethepeninsulaofMonterey，standstheimportanttownfromwhichittakesitsname;but，seatedonthebordersofaperfectdesert，itwasnotconnectedwiththeinteriorbyanetworkoftelegraphicwires，andelectricityalonecouldspreadtheseimportantnewsfastenough。

SomedegreesaboveopenedthebayofSanFrancisco。ThroughthecapitalofthegoldcountrycommunicationwouldbeeasywiththeheartoftheUnion。AndinlessthantwodaystheSusquehanna，byputtingonhighpressure，couldarriveinthatport。Shemustthereforestartatonce。

Thefiresweremadeup;theycouldsetoffimmediately。

Twothousandfathomsoflinewerestillout，whichCaptainBlomsberry，notwishingtoloseprecioustimeinhaulingin，resolvedtocut。

"wewillfastentheendtoabuoy，"saidhe，"andthatbuoywillshowustheexactspotwheretheprojectilefell。"

"Besides，"repliedLieutenantBronsfield，"wehaveoursituationexact——27@7’northlatitudeand41@37’westlongitude。"

"Well，Mr。Bronsfield，"repliedthecaptain，"now，withyourpermission，wewillhavethelinecut。"

Astrongbuoy，strengthenedbyacoupleofspars，wasthrownintotheocean。Theendoftheropewascarefullylashedtoit;

and，leftsolelytotheriseandfallofthebillows，thebuoywouldnotsensiblydeviatefromthespot。

Atthismomenttheengineersenttoinformthecaptainthatsteamwasupandtheycouldstart，forwhichagreeablecommunicationthecaptainthankedhim。Thecoursewasthengivennorth—northeast，andthecorvette，wearing，steeredatfullsteamdirectforSanFrancisco。Itwasthreeinthemorning。

Fourhundredandfiftymilestocross;itwasnothingforagoodvesselliketheSusquehanna。Inthirty—sixhoursshehadcoveredthatdistance;andonthe14thofDecember，attwenty—sevenminutespastoneatnight，sheenteredthebayofSanFrancisco。

Atthesightofashipofthenationalnavyarrivingatfullspeed，withherbowspritbroken，publiccuriositywasgreatlyroused。

Adensecrowdsoonassembledonthequay，waitingforthemtodisembark。

Aftercastinganchor，CaptainBlomsberryandLieutenantBronsfieldenteredaneight—paredcutter，whichsoonbroughtthemtoland。

Theyjumpedontothequay。

"Thetelegraph？"theyasked，withoutansweringoneofthethousandquestionsaddressedtothem。

Theofficeroftheportconductedthemtothetelegraphofficethroughaconcourseofspectators。BlomsberryandBronsfieldentered，whilethecrowdcrushedeachotheratthedoor。

Someminuteslaterafourfoldtelegramwassentout——thefirsttotheNavalSecretaryatWashington;thesecondtothevice—presidentoftheGunClub，Baltimore;thethirdtotheHon。

J。T。Maston，Long’sPeak，RockyMountains;andthefourthtothesub—directoroftheCambridgeObservatory，Massachusetts。

Itwaswordedasfollows：

In20@7’northlatitude，and41@37’westlongitude，onthe12thofDecember，atseventeenminutespastoneinthemorning，theprojectileoftheColumbiadfellintothePacific。

Sendinstructions。——BLOMSBERRY，CommanderSusquehanna。

FiveminutesafterwardthewholetownofSanFranciscolearnedthenews。BeforesixintheeveningthedifferentStatesoftheUnionhadheardthegreatcatastrophe;andaftermidnight，bythecable，thewholeofEuropeknewtheresultofthegreatAmericanexperiment。Wewillnotattempttopicturetheeffectproducedontheentireworldbythatunexpecteddenouement。

OnreceiptofthetelegramtheNavalSecretarytelegraphedtotheSusquehannatowaitinthebayofSanFranciscowithoutextinguishingherfires。Dayandnightshemustbereadytoputtosea。

TheCambridgeobservatorycalledaspecialmeeting;and，withthatcomposurewhichdistinguisheslearnedbodiesingeneral，peacefullydiscussedthescientificbearingsofthequestion。

AttheGunClubtherewasanexplosion。Allthegunnerswereassembled。Vice—PresidenttheHon。Wilcomewasintheactofreadingtheprematuredispatch，inwhichJ。T。MastonandBelfastannouncedthattheprojectilehadjustbeenseeninthegiganticreflectorofLong’sPeak，andalsothatitwasheldbylunarattraction，andwasplayingthepartofundersatellitetothelunarworld。

Weknowthetruthonthatpoint。

ButonthearrivalofBlomsberry’sdispatch，sodecidelycontradictingJ。T。Maston’stelegram，twopartieswereformedinthebosomoftheGunClub。Ononesidewerethosewhoadmittedthefalloftheprojectile，andconsequentlythereturnofthetravelers;ontheother，thosewhobelievedintheobservationsofLong’sPeak，concludedthatthecommanderoftheSusquehannahadmadeamistake。Tothelatterthepretendedprojectilewasnothingbutameteor！nothingbutameteor，ashootingglobe，whichinitsfallhadsmashedthebowsofthecorvette。Itwasdifficulttoanswerthisargument，forthespeedwithwhichitwasanimatedmusthavemadeobservationverydifficult。ThecommanderoftheSusquehannaandherofficersmighthavemadeamistakeinallgoodfaith;oneargumenthowever，wasintheirfavor，namely，thatiftheprojectilehadfallenontheearth，itsplaceofmeetingwiththeterrestrialglobecouldonlytakeplaceonthis27@northlatitude，and（takingintoconsiderationthetimethathadelapsed，andtherotarymotionoftheearth）betweenthe41@andthe42@ofwestlongitude。Inanycase，itwasdecidedintheGunClubthatBlomsberrybrothers，Bilsby，andMajorElphinstoneshouldgostraighttoSanFrancisco，andconsultastothemeansofraisingtheprojectilefromthedepthsoftheocean。

Thesedevotedmensetoffatonce;andtherailroad，whichwillsooncrossthewholeofCentralAmerica，tookthemasfarasSt。

Louis，wheretheswiftmail—coachesawaitedthem。AlmostatthesamemomentinwhichtheSecretaryofMarine，thevice—presidentoftheGunClub，andthesub—directoroftheObservatoryreceivedthedispatchfromSanFrancisco，theHonorableJ。T。Mastonwasundergoingthegreatestexcitementhehadeverexperiencedinhislife，anexcitementwhicheventheburstingofhispetgun，whichhadmorethanoncenearlycosthimhislife，hadnotcausedhim。

WemayrememberthatthesecretaryoftheGunClubhadstartedsoonaftertheprojectile（andalmostasquickly）forthestationonLong’sPeak，intheRockyMountains，J。Belfast，directoroftheCambridgeObservatory，accompanyinghim。Arrivedthere，thetwofriendshadinstalledthemselvesatonce，neverquittingthesummitoftheirenormoustelescope。Weknowthatthisgiganticinstrumenthadbeensetupaccordingtothereflectingsystem，calledbytheEnglish"frontview。"Thisarrangementsubjectedallobjectstobutonereflection，makingtheviewconsequentlymuchclearer;theresultwasthat，whentheyweretakingobservation，J。T。MastonandBelfastwereplacedinthe_upper_

partoftheinstrumentandnotinthelower，whichtheyreachedbyacircularstaircase，amasterpieceoflightness，whilebelowthemopenedametalwellterminatedbythemetallicmirror，whichmeasuredtwohundredandeightyfeetindepth。

Itwasonanarrowplatformplacedabovethetelescopethatthetwosavantspassedtheirexistence，execratingthedaywhichhidthemoonfromtheireyes，andthecloudswhichobstinatelyveiledherduringthenight。

What，then，wastheirdelightwhen，aftersomedaysofwaiting，onthenightofthe5thofDecember，theysawthevehiclewhichwasbearingtheirfriendsintospace！Tothisdelightsucceededagreatdeception，when，trustingtoacursoryobservation，theylaunchedtheirfirsttelegramtotheworld，erroneouslyaffirmingthattheprojectilehadbecomeasatelliteofthemoon，gravitatinginanimmutableorbit。

Fromthatmomentithadnevershownitselftotheireyes——adisappearanceallthemoreeasilyexplained，asitwasthenpassingbehindthemoon’sinvisibledisc;butwhenitwastimeforittoreappearonthevisibledisc，onemayimaginetheimpatienceofthefumingJ。T。Mastonandhisnotlessimpatientcompanion。Eachminuteofthenighttheythoughttheysawtheprojectileoncemore，andtheydidnotseeit。

Henceconstantdiscussionsandviolentdisputesbetweenthem，Belfastaffirmingthattheprojectilecouldnotbeseen，J。T。

Mastonmaintainingthat"ithadputhiseyesout。"

"Itistheprojectile！"repeatedJ。T。Maston。

"No，"answeredBelfast;"itisanavalanchedetachedfromalunarmountain。"

"Well，weshallseeitto—morrow。"

"No，weshallnotseeitanymore。Itiscarriedintospace。"

"Yes！"

"No！"

Andatthesemoments，whencontradictionsrainedlikehail，thewell—knownirritabilityofthesecretaryoftheGunClubconstitutedapermanentdangerfortheHonorableBelfast。

Theexistenceofthesetwotogetherwouldsoonhavebecomeimpossible;butanunforseeneventcutshorttheireverlastingdiscussions。

Duringthenight，fromthe14thtothe15thofDecember，thetwoirreconcilablefriendswerebusyobservingthelunardisc，J。T。

MastonabusingthelearnedBelfastasusual，whowasbyhisside;thesecretaryoftheGunClubmaintainingforthethousandthtimethathehadjustseentheprojectile，andaddingthathecouldseeMichelArdan’sfacelookingthroughoneofthescuttles，atthesametimeenforcinghisargumentbyaseriesofgestureswhichhisformidablehookrenderedveryunpleasant。

AtthismomentBelfast’sservantappearedontheplatform（itwastenatnight）andgavehimadispatch。ItwasthecommanderoftheSusquehanna’stelegram。

Belfasttoretheenvelopeandread，andutteredacry。

"What！"saidJ。T。Maston。

"Theprojectile！"

"Well！"

"Hasfallentotheearth！"

Anothercry，thistimeaperfecthowl，answeredhim。HeturnedtowardJ。T。Maston。Theunfortunateman，imprudentlyleaningoverthemetaltube，haddisappearedintheimmensetelescope。

Afalloftwohundredandeightyfeet！Belfast，dismayed，rushedtotheorificeofthereflector。

Hebreathed。J。T。Maston，caughtbyhismetalhook，washoldingonbyoneoftheringswhichboundthetelescopetogether，utteringfearfulcries。

Belfastcalled。Helpwasbrought，tacklewasletdown，andtheyhoistedup，notwithoutsometrouble，theimprudentsecretaryoftheGunClub。

Hereappearedattheupperorificewithouthurt。

"Ah！"saidhe，"ifIhadbrokenthemirror？"

"Youwouldhavepaidforit，"repliedBelfastseverely。

"Andthatcursedprojectilehasfallen？"askedJ。T。Maston。

"IntothePacific！"

"Letusgo！"

AquarterofanhourafterthetwosavantsweredescendingthedeclivityoftheRockyMountains;andtwodaysafter，atthesametimeastheirfriendsoftheGunClub，theyarrivedatSanFrancisco，havingkilledfivehorsesontheroad。

Elphinstone，thebrothersBlomsberry，andBilsbyrushedtowardthemontheirarrival。

"Whatshallwedo？"theyexclaimed。

"Fishuptheprojectile，"repliedJ。T。Maston，"andthesoonerthebetter。"

CHAPTERXXII

RECOVEREDFROMTHESEA

Thespotwheretheprojectilesankunderthewaveswasexactlyknown;butthemachinerytograspitandbringittothesurfaceoftheoceanwasstillwanting。Itmustfirstbeinvented，thenmade。Americanengineerscouldnotbetroubledwithsuchtrifles。Thegrappling—ironsoncefixed，bytheirhelptheyweresuretoraiseitinspiteofitsweight，whichwaslessenedbythedensityoftheliquidinwhichitwasplunged。

Butfishing—uptheprojectilewasnottheonlythingtobethoughtof。

Theymustactpromptlyintheinterestofthetravelers。Noonedoubtedthattheywerestillliving。

"Yes，"repeatedJ。T。Mastonincessantly，whoseconfidencegainedovereverybody，"ourfriendsarecleverpeople，andtheycannothavefallenlikesimpletons。Theyarealive，quitealive;

butwemustmakehasteifwewishtofindthemso。Foodandwaterdonottroubleme;theyhaveenoughforalongwhile。

Butair，air，thatiswhattheywillsoonwant;soquick，quick！"

Andtheydidgoquick。TheyfitteduptheSusquehannaforhernewdestination。Herpowerfulmachinerywasbroughttobearuponthehauling—chains。Thealuminumprojectileonlyweighed19，250pounds，aweightveryinferiortothatofthetransatlanticcablewhichhadbeendrawnupundersimilarconditions。Theonlydifficultywasinfishingupacylindro—conicalprojectile，thewallsofwhichweresosmoothastooffernoholdforthehooks。

OnthataccountEngineerMurchisonhastenedtoSanFrancisco，andhadsomeenormousgrappling—ironsfixedonanautomaticsystem，whichwouldneverlettheprojectilegoifitoncesucceededinseizingitinitspowerfulclaws。Diving—dresseswerealsoprepared，whichthroughthisimperviouscoveringallowedthediverstoobservethebottomofthesea。Healsohadputonboardanapparatusofcompressedairverycleverlydesigned。

Therewereperfectchamberspiercedwithscuttles，which，withwaterletintocertaincompartments，coulddrawitdownintogreatdepths。TheseapparatuseswereatSanFrancisco，wheretheyhadbeenusedintheconstructionofasubmarinebreakwater;

andveryfortunatelyitwasso，fortherewasnotimetoconstructany。Butinspiteoftheperfectionofthemachinery，inspiteoftheingenuityofthesavantsentrustedwiththeuseofthem，thesuccessoftheoperationwasfarfrombeingcertain。

Howgreatwerethechancesagainstthem，theprojectilebeing20，000feetunderthewater！Andifevenitwasbroughttothesurface，howwouldthetravelershavebornetheterribleshockwhich20，000feetofwaterhadperhapsnotsufficientlybroken？

Atanyratetheymustactquickly。J。T。Mastonhurriedtheworkmendayandnight。Hewasreadytodonthediving—dresshimself，ortrytheairapparatus，inordertoreconnoiterthesituationofhiscourageousfriends。

Butinspiteofallthediligencedisplayedinpreparingthedifferentengines，inspiteoftheconsiderablesumplacedatthedisposaloftheGunClubbytheGovernmentoftheUnion，fivelongdays（fivecenturies！）elapsedbeforethepreparationswerecomplete。Duringthistimepublicopinionwasexcitedtothehighestpitch。Telegramswereexchangedincessantlythroughouttheentireworldbymeansofwiresandelectriccables。

ThesavingofBarbicane，Nicholl，andMichelArdanwasaninternationalaffair。EveryonewhohadsubscribedtotheGunClubwasdirectlyinterestedinthewelfareofthetravelers。

Atlengththehauling—chains，theair—chambers，andtheautomaticgrappling—ironswereputonboard。J。T。Maston，EngineerMurchison，andthedelegatesoftheGunClub，werealreadyintheircabins。Theyhadbuttostart，whichtheydidonthe21stofDecember，ateighto’clockatnight，thecorvettemeetingwithabeautifulsea，anortheasterlywind，andrathersharpcold。ThewholepopulationofSanFranciscowasgatheredonthequay，greatlyexcitedbutsilent，reservingtheirhurrahsforthereturn。Steamwasfullyup，andthescrewoftheSusquehannacarriedthembrisklyoutofthebay。

Itisneedlesstorelatetheconversationsonboardbetweentheofficers，sailors，andpassengers。Allthesemenhadbutonethought。Alltheseheartsbeatunderthesameemotion。

Whiletheywerehasteningtohelpthem，whatwereBarbicaneandhiscompanionsdoing？Whathadbecomeofthem？Weretheyabletoattemptanyboldmaneuvertoregaintheirliberty？Nonecouldsay。

Thetruthisthateveryattemptmusthavefailed！Immersednearlyfourmilesundertheocean，thismetalprisondefiedeveryeffortofitsprisoners。

Onthe23rdinst。，ateightinthemorning，afterarapidpassage，theSusquehannawasdueatthefatalspot。Theymustwaittilltwelvetotakethereckoningexactly。Thebuoytowhichthesoundinglinehadbeenlashedhadnotyetbeenrecognized。

Attwelve，CaptainBlomsberry，assistedbyhisofficerswhosuperintendedtheobservations，tookthereckoninginthepresenceofthedelegatesoftheGunClub。Thentherewasamomentofanxiety。Herpositiondecided，theSusquehannawasfoundtobesomeminuteswestwardofthespotwheretheprojectilehaddisappearedbeneaththewaves。

Theship’scoursewasthenchangedsoastoreachthisexactpoint。

Atforty—sevenminutespasttwelvetheyreachedthebuoy;itwasinperfectcondition，andmusthaveshiftedbutlittle。

"Atlast！"exclaimedJ。T。Maston。

"Shallwebegin？"askedCaptainBlomsberry。

"Withoutlosingasecond。"

Everyprecautionwastakentokeepthecorvettealmostcompletelymotionless。Beforetryingtoseizetheprojectile，EngineerMurchisonwantedtofinditsexactpositionatthebottomoftheocean。Thesubmarineapparatusdestinedforthisexpeditionwassuppliedwithair。Theworkingoftheseengineswasnotwithoutdanger，forat20，000feetbelowthesurfaceofthewater，andundersuchgreatpressure，theywereexposedtofracture，theconsequencesofwhichwouldbedreadful。

J。T。Maston，thebrothersBlomsberry，andEngineerMurchison，withoutheedingthesedangers，tooktheirplacesintheair—chamber。Thecommander，postedonhisbridge，superintendedtheoperation，readytostoporhaulinthechainsontheslightestsignal。Thescrewhadbeenshipped，andthewholepowerofthemachinerycollectedonthecapstanwouldhavequicklydrawntheapparatusonboard。Thedescentbeganattwenty—fiveminutespastoneatnight，andthechamber，drawnunderbythereservoirsfullofwater，disappearedfromthesurfaceoftheocean。

Theemotionoftheofficersandsailorsonboardwasnowdividedbetweentheprisonersintheprojectileandtheprisonersinthesubmarineapparatus。Astothelatter，theyforgotthemselves，and，gluedtothewindowsofthescuttles，attentivelywatchedtheliquidmassthroughwhichtheywerepassing。

Thedescentwasrapid。Atseventeenminutespasttwo，J。T。

MastonandhiscompanionshadreachedthebottomofthePacific;

buttheysawnothingbutanariddesert，nolongeranimatedbyeitherfaunaorflora。Bythelightoftheirlamps，furnishedwithpowerfulreflectors，theycouldseethedarkbedsoftheoceanforaconsiderableextentofview，buttheprojectilewasnowheretobeseen。

Theimpatienceofthesebolddiverscannotbedescribed，andhavinganelectricalcommunicationwiththecorvette，theymadeasignalalreadyagreedupon，andforthespaceofamiletheSusquehannamovedtheirchamberalongsomeyardsabovethebottom。

Thustheyexploredthewholesubmarineplain，deceivedateveryturnbyopticalillusionswhichalmostbroketheirhearts。

Herearock，thereaprojectionfromtheground，seemedtobethemuch—sought—forprojectile;buttheirmistakewassoondiscovered，andthentheywereindespair。

"Butwherearethey？wherearethey？"criedJ。T。Maston。AndthepoormancalledloudlyuponNicholl，Barbicane，andMichelArdan，asifhisunfortunatefriendscouldeitherhearoranswerhimthroughsuchanimpenetrablemedium！Thesearchcontinuedundertheseconditionsuntilthevitiatedaircompelledthediverstoascend。

Thehaulinginbeganaboutsixintheevening，andwasnotendedbeforemidnight。

"To—morrow，"saidJ。T。Maston，ashesetfootonthebridgeofthecorvette。

"Yes，"answeredCaptainBlomsberry。

"Andonanotherspot？"

"Yes。"

J。T。Mastondidnotdoubtoftheirfinalsuccess，buthiscompanions，nolongerupheldbytheexcitementofthefirsthours，understoodallthedifficultyoftheenterprise。

WhatseemedeasyatSanFrancisco，seemedhereinthewideoceanalmostimpossible。Thechancesofsuccessdiminishedinrapidproportion;anditwasfromchancealonethatthemeetingwiththeprojectilemightbeexpected。

Thenextday，the24th，inspiteofthefatigueofthepreviousday，theoperationwasrenewed。Thecorvetteadvancedsomeminutestowestward，andtheapparatus，providedwithair，borethesameexplorerstothedepthsoftheocean。

Thewholedaypassedinfruitlessresearch;thebedoftheseawasadesert。The25thbroughtnootherresult，northe26th。

Itwasdisheartening。Theythoughtofthoseunfortunatesshutupintheprojectilefortwenty—sixdays。Perhapsatthatmomenttheywereexperiencingthefirstapproachofsuffocation;

thatis，iftheyhadescapedthedangersoftheirfall。Theairwasspent，anddoubtlesswiththeairalltheir_morale_。

"Theair，possibly，"answeredJ。T。Mastonresolutely，"buttheir_morale_never！"

Onthe28th，aftertwomoredaysofsearch，allhopewasgone。

Thisprojectilewasbutanatomintheimmensityoftheocean。

Theymustgiveupallideaoffindingit。

ButJ。T。Mastonwouldnothearofgoingaway。Hewouldnotabandontheplacewithoutatleastdiscoveringthetombofhisfriends。ButCommanderBlomsberrycouldnolongerpersist，andinspiteoftheexclamationsoftheworthysecretary，wasobligedtogivetheordertosail。

Onthe29thofDecember，atnineA。M。，theSusquehanna，headingnortheast，resumedhercoursetothebayofSanFrancisco。

Itwasteninthemorning;thecorvettewasunderhalf—steam，asitwasregrettingtoleavethespotwherethecatastrophehadtakenplace，whenasailor，perchedonthemain—top—gallantcrosstrees，watchingthesea，criedsuddenly：

"Abuoyontheleebow！"

Theofficerslookedinthedirectionindicated，andbythehelpoftheirglassessawthattheobjectsignalledhadtheappearanceofoneofthosebuoyswhichareusedtomarkthepassagesofbaysorrivers。But，singularlytosay，aflagfloatingonthewindsurmounteditscone，whichemergedfiveorsixfeetoutofwater。Thisbuoyshoneundertheraysofthesunasifithadbeenmadeofplatesofsilver。

CommanderBlomsberry，J。T。Maston，andthedelegatesoftheGunClubweremountedonthebridge，examiningthisobjectstrayingatrandomonthewaves。

Alllookedwithfeverishanxiety，butinsilence。Nonedaredgiveexpressiontothethoughtswhichcametothemindsofall。

Thecorvetteapproachedtowithintwocables’lengthsoftheobject。

Ashudderranthroughthewholecrew。ThatflagwastheAmericanflag！

Atthismomentaperfecthowlingwasheard;itwasthebraveJ。

T。Mastonwhohadjustfallenallinaheap。Forgettingontheonehandthathisrightarmhadbeenreplacedbyanironhook，andontheotherthatasimplegutta—perchacapcoveredhisbrain—box，hehadgivenhimselfaformidableblow。

Theyhurriedtowardhim，pickedhimup，restoredhimtolife。

Andwhatwerehisfirstwords？

"Ah！treblybrutes！quadruplyidiots！quintuplyboobiesthatweare！"

"Whatisit？"exclaimedeveryonearoundhim。

"Whatisit？"

"Come，speak！"

"Itis，simpletons，"howledtheterriblesecretary，"itisthattheprojectileonlyweighs19，250pounds！"

"Well？"

"Andthatitdisplacestwenty—eighttons，orinotherwords56，000pounds，andthatconsequently_itfloats_！"

Ah！whatstresstheworthymanhadlaidontheverb"float！"

Anditwastrue！All，yes！allthesesavantshadforgottenthisfundamentallaw，namely，thatonaccountofitsspecificlightness，theprojectile，afterhavingbeendrawnbyitsfalltothegreatestdepthsoftheocean，mustnaturallyreturntothesurface。Andnowitwasfloatingquietlyatthemercyofthewaves。

Theboatswereputtosea。J。T。Mastonandhisfriendshadrushedintothem！Excitementwasatitsheight！Everyheartbeatloudlywhiletheyadvancedtotheprojectile。Whatdiditcontain？Livingordead？

Living，yes！living，atleastunlessdeathhadstruckBarbicaneandhistwofriendssincetheyhadhoistedtheflag。

Profoundsilencereignedontheboats。Allwerebreathless。

Eyesnolongersaw。Oneofthescuttlesoftheprojectilewasopen。

Somepiecesofglassremainedintheframe，showingthatithadbeenbroken。Thisscuttlewasactuallyfivefeetabovethewater。

Aboatcamealongside，thatofJ。T。Maston，andJ。T。Mastonrushedtothebrokenwindow。

Atthatmomenttheyheardaclearandmerryvoice，thevoiceofMichelArdan，exclaiminginanaccentoftriumph：

"Whiteall，Barbicane，whiteall！"

Barbicane，MichelArdan，andNichollwereplayingatdominoes！

CHAPTERXXIII

THEEND

Wemayremembertheintensesympathywhichhadaccompaniedthetravelersontheirdeparture。Ifatthebeginningoftheenterprisetheyhadexcitedsuchemotionbothintheoldandnewworld，withwhatenthusiasmwouldtheybereceivedontheirreturn！ThemillionsofspectatorswhichhadbesetthepeninsulaofFlorida，wouldtheynotrushtomeetthesesublimeadventurers？Thoselegionsofstrangers，hurryingfromallpartsoftheglobetowardtheAmericanshores，wouldtheyleavetheUnionwithouthavingseenBarbicane，Nicholl，andMichelArdan？No！andtheardentpassionofthepublicwasboundtorespondworthilytothegreatnessoftheenterprise。

Humancreatureswhohadlefttheterrestrialsphere，andreturnedafterthisstrangevoyageintocelestialspace，couldnotfailtobereceivedastheprophetEliaswouldbeifhecamebacktoearth。Toseethemfirst，andthentohearthem，suchwastheuniversallonging。

Barbicane，MichelArdan，Nicholl，andthedelegatesoftheGunClub，returningwithoutdelaytoBaltimore，werereceivedwithindescribableenthusiasm。ThenotesofPresidentBarbicane’svoyagewerereadytobegiventothepublic。TheNewYork_Herald_boughtthemanuscriptatapricenotyetknown，butwhichmusthavebeenveryhigh。Indeed，duringthepublicationof"AJourneytotheMoon，"thesaleofthispaperamountedtofivemillionsofcopies。Threedaysafterthereturnofthetravelerstotheearth，theslightestdetailoftheirexpeditionwasknown。Thereremainednothingmorebuttoseetheheroesofthissuperhumanenterprise。

TheexpeditionofBarbicaneandhisfriendsroundthemoonhadenabledthemtocorrectthemanyadmittedtheoriesregardingtheterrestrialsatellite。Thesesavantshadobserved_devisu_，andunderparticularcircumstances。Theyknewwhatsystemsshouldberejected，whatretainedwithregardtotheformationofthatorb，itsorigin，itshabitability。Itspast，present，andfuturehadevengivenuptheirlastsecrets。Whocouldadvanceobjectionsagainstconscientiousobservers，whoatlessthantwenty—fourmilesdistancehadmarkedthatcuriousmountainofTycho，thestrangestsystemoflunarorography？HowanswerthosesavantswhosesighthadpenetratedtheabyssofPluto’scircle？Howcontradictthoseboldoneswhomthechancesoftheirenterprisehadborneoverthatinvisiblefaceofthedisc，whichnohumaneyeuntilthenhadeverseen？Itwasnowtheirturntoimposesomelimitonthatselenographicscience，whichhadreconstructedthelunarworldasCuvierdidtheskeletonofafossil，andsay，"Themoon_was_this，ahabitableworld，inhabitedbeforetheearth。Themoon_is_that，aworlduninhabitable，andnowuninhabited。"

Tocelebratethereturnofitsmostillustriousmemberandhistwocompanions，theGunClubdecidedupongivingabanquet，butabanquetworthyoftheconquerors，worthyoftheAmericanpeople，andundersuchconditionsthatalltheinhabitantsoftheUnioncoulddirectlytakepartinit。

AlltheheadlinesofrailroadsintheStateswerejoinedbyflyingrails;andonalltheplatforms，linedwiththesameflags，anddecoratedwiththesameornaments，weretableslaidandallservedalike。Atcertainhours，successivelycalculated，markedbyelectricclockswhichbeatthesecondsatthesametime，thepopulationwereinvitedtotaketheirplacesatthebanquettables。Forfourdays，fromthe5thtothe9thofJanuary，thetrainswerestoppedastheyareonSundaysontherailwaysoftheUnitedStates，andeveryroadwasopen。

Oneengineonlyatfullspeed，drawingatriumphalcarriage，hadtherightoftravelingforthosefourdaysontherailroadsoftheUnitedStates。

Theenginewasmannedbyadriverandastoker，andbore，byspecialfavor，theHon。J。T。Maston，secretaryoftheGunClub。

ThecarriagewasreservedforPresidentBarbicane，ColonelNicholl，andMichelArdan。Atthewhistleofthedriver，amidthehurrahs，andalltheadmiringvociferationsoftheAmericanlanguage，thetrainlefttheplatformofBaltimore。Ittraveledataspeedofonehundredandsixtymilesinthehour。ButwhatwasthisspeedcomparedwiththatwhichhadcarriedthethreeheroesfromthemouthoftheColumbiad？

Thustheyspedfromonetowntotheother，findingwholepopulationsattableontheirroad，salutingthemwiththesameacclamations，lavishingthesamebravos！TheytraveledinthiswaythroughtheeastoftheUnion，Pennsylvania，Connecticut，Massachusetts，Vermont，Maine，andNewHampshire;thenorthandwestbyNewYork，Ohio，Michigan，andWisconsin;returningtothesouthbyIllinois，Missouri，Arkansas，Texas，andLouisiana;

theywenttothesoutheastbyAlabamaandFlorida，goingupbyGeorgiaandtheCarolinas，visitingthecenterbyTennessee，Kentucky，Virginia，andIndiana，and，afterquittingtheWashingtonstation，re—enteredBaltimore，whereforfourdaysonewouldhavethoughtthattheUnitedStatesofAmericawereseatedatoneimmensebanquet，salutingthemsimultaneouslywiththesamehurrahs！Theapotheosiswasworthyofthesethreeheroeswhomfablewouldhaveplacedintherankofdemigods。

Andnowwillthisattempt，unprecedentedintheannalsoftravels，leadtoanypracticalresult？Willdirectcommunicationwiththemooneverbeestablished？Willtheyeverlaythefoundationofatravelingservicethroughthesolarworld？Willtheygofromoneplanettoanother，fromJupitertoMercury，andafterawhilefromonestartoanother，fromthePolartoSirius？Willthismeansoflocomotionallowustovisitthosesunswhichswarminthefirmament？

Tosuchquestionsnoanswercanbegiven。ButknowingtheboldingenuityoftheAnglo—Saxonrace，noonewouldbeastonishediftheAmericansseektomakesomeuseofPresidentBarbicane’sattempt。

Thus，sometimeafterthereturnofthetravelers，thepublicreceivedwithmarkedfavortheannouncementofacompany，limited，withacapitalofahundredmillionofdollars，dividedintoahundredthousandsharesofathousanddollarseach，underthenameofthe"NationalCompanyofInterstellaryCommunication。"

President，Barbicane;vice—president，CaptainNicholl;secretary，J。T。Maston;directorofmovements，MichelArdan。

AndasitispartoftheAmericantemperamenttoforeseeeverythinginbusiness，evenfailure，theHonorableHarryTrolloppe，judgecommissioner，andFrancisDrayton，magistrate，werenominatedbeforehand！