From the Earth to the Moon; and, Round the Moon

by Jules Verne

  CHAPTER XX

  ATTACK AND RIPOSTE

  As soon as the excitement had subsided, the following words wereheard uttered in a strong and determined voice:

  "Now that the speaker has favored us with so much imagination,would he be so good as to return to his subject, and give us alittle practical view of the question?"

  All eyes were directed toward the person who spoke. He was alittle dried-up man, of an active figure, with an American"goatee" beard. Profiting by the different movements in the crowd,he had managed by degrees to gain the front row of spectators.There, with arms crossed and stern gaze, he watched the hero ofthe meeting. After having put his question he remained silent,and appeared to take no notice of the thousands of looks directedtoward himself, nor of the murmur of disapprobation excited byhis words. Meeting at first with no reply, he repeated hisquestion with marked emphasis, adding, "We are here to talk aboutthe _moon_ and not about the _earth_."

  "You are right, sir," replied Michel Ardan; "the discussion hasbecome irregular. We will return to the moon."

  "Sir," said the unknown, "you pretend that our satellite is inhabited.Very good, but if Selenites do exist, that race of beings assuredlymust live without breathing, for-- I warn you for your own sake--there is not the smallest particle of air on the surface of the moon."

  At this remark Ardan pushed up his shock of red hair; he sawthat he was on the point of being involved in a struggle withthis person upon the very gist of the whole question. He lookedsternly at him in his turn and said:

  "Oh! so there is no air in the moon? And pray, if you are sogood, who ventures to affirm that?

  "The men of science."

  "Really?"

  "Really."

  "Sir," replied Michel, "pleasantry apart, I have a profoundrespect for men of science who do possess science, but aprofound contempt for men of science who do not."

  "Do you know any who belong to the latter category?"

  "Decidedly. In France there are some who maintain that,mathematically, a bird cannot possibly fly; and others whodemonstrate theoretically that fishes were never made tolive in water."

  "I have nothing to do with persons of that description, and Ican quote, in support of my statement, names which you cannotrefuse deference to."

  "Then, sir, you will sadly embarrass a poor ignorant, who,besides, asks nothing better than to learn."

  "Why, then, do you introduce scientific questions if you havenever studied them?" asked the unknown somewhat coarsely.

  "For the reason that `he is always brave who never suspects danger.'I know nothing, it is true; but it is precisely my very weaknesswhich constitutes my strength."

  "Your weakness amounts to folly," retorted the unknown in a passion.

  "All the better," replied our Frenchman, "if it carries me up tothe moon."

  Barbicane and his colleagues devoured with their eyes the intruderwho had so boldly placed himself in antagonism to their enterprise.Nobody knew him, and the president, uneasy as to the result of sofree a discussion, watched his new friend with some anxiety.The meeting began to be somewhat fidgety also, for the contestdirected their attention to the dangers, if not the actualimpossibilities, of the proposed expedition.

  "Sir," replied Ardan's antagonist, "there are many andincontrovertible reasons which prove the absence of anatmosphere in the moon. I might say that, _a priori_, if oneever did exist, it must have been absorbed by the earth; but Iprefer to bring forward indisputable facts."

  "Bring them forward then, sir, as many as you please."

  "You know," said the stranger, "that when any luminous rayscross a medium such as the air, they are deflected out of thestraight line; in other words, they undergo refraction. Well!When stars are occulted by the moon, their rays, on grazing theedge of her disc, exhibit not the least deviation, nor offer theslightest indication of refraction. It follows, therefore, thatthe moon cannot be surrounded by an atmosphere.

  "In point of fact," replied Ardan, "this is your chief, if notyour _only_ argument; and a really scientific man might bepuzzled to answer it. For myself, I will simply say that it isdefective, because it assumes that the angular diameter of themoon has been completely determined, which is not the case.But let us proceed. Tell me, my dear sir, do you admit theexistence of volcanoes on the moon's surface?"

  "Extinct, yes! In activity, no!"

  "These volcanoes, however, were at one time in a state of activity?"

  "True, but, as they furnish themselves the oxygen necessary forcombustion, the mere fact of their eruption does not prove thepresence of an atmosphere."

  "Proceed again, then; and let us set aside this class ofarguments in order to come to direct observations. In 1715 theastronomers Louville and Halley, watching the eclipse of the3rd of May, remarked some very extraordinary scintillations.These jets of light, rapid in nature, and of frequent recurrence,they attributed to thunderstorms generated in the lunar atmosphere."

  "In 1715," replied the unknown, "the astronomers Louville andHalley mistook for lunar phenomena some which were purelyterrestrial, such as meteoric or other bodies which aregenerated in our own atmosphere. This was the scientificexplanation at the time of the facts; and that is my answer now."

  "On again, then," replied Ardan; "Herschel, in 1787, observed agreat number of luminous points on the moon's surface, did he not?"

  "Yes! but without offering any solution of them. Herschel himselfnever inferred from them the necessity of a lunar atmosphere.And I may add that Baeer and Maedler, the two great authoritiesupon the moon, are quite agreed as to the entire absence of airon its surface."

  A movement was here manifest among the assemblage, who appearedto be growing excited by the arguments of this singular personage.

  "Let us proceed," replied Ardan, with perfect coolness, "andcome to one important fact. A skillful French astronomer, M.Laussedat, in watching the eclipse of July 18, 1860, probed thatthe horns of the lunar crescent were rounded and truncated.Now, this appearance could only have been produced by adeviation of the solar rays in traversing the atmosphere ofthe moon. There is no other possible explanation of the facts."

  "But is this established as a fact?"

  "Absolutely certain!"

  A counter-movement here took place in favor of the hero of themeeting, whose opponent was now reduced to silence. Ardan resumedthe conversation; and without exhibiting any exultation at theadvantage he had gained, simply said:

  "You see, then, my dear sir, we must not pronounce with absolutepositiveness against the existence of an atmosphere in the moon.That atmosphere is, probably, of extreme rarity; nevertheless atthe present day science generally admits that it exists."

  "Not in the mountains, at all events," returned the unknown,unwilling to give in.

  "No! but at the bottom of the valleys, and not exceeding a fewhundred feet in height."

  "In any case you will do well to take every precaution, for theair will be terribly rarified."

  "My good sir, there will always be enough for a solitaryindividual; besides, once arrived up there, I shall do my bestto economize, and not to breathe except on grand occasions!"

  A tremendous roar of laughter rang in the ears of the mysteriousinterlocutor, who glared fiercely round upon the assembly.

  "Then," continued Ardan, with a careless air, "since we are inaccord regarding the presence of a certain atmosphere, we areforced to admit the presence of a certain quantity of water.This is a happy consequence for me. Moreover, my amiablecontradictor, permit me to submit to you one further observation.We only know _one_ side of the moon's disc; and if there is butlittle air on the face presented to us, it is possible that thereis plenty on the one turned away from us."

  "And for what reason?"

  "Because the moon, under the action of the earth's attraction,has assumed the form of an egg, which we look at from thesmaller end. Hence it follows, by Hausen's calculations, thatits center of gravity is situated in the other hemisphere.Hence it
results that the great mass of air and water must havebeen drawn away to the other face of our satellite during thefirst days of its creation."

  "Pure fancies!" cried the unknown.

  "No! Pure theories! which are based upon the laws of mechanics,and it seems difficult to me to refute them. I appeal then tothis meeting, and I put it to them whether life, such as existsupon the earth, is possible on the surface of the moon?"

  Three hundred thousand auditors at once applauded the proposition.Ardan's opponent tried to get in another word, but he could notobtain a hearing. Cries and menaces fell upon him like hail.

  "Enough! enough!" cried some.

  "Drive the intruder off!" shouted others.

  "Turn him out!" roared the exasperated crowd.

  But he, holding firmly on to the platform, did not budge aninch, and let the storm pass on, which would soon have assumedformidable proportions, if Michel Ardan had not quieted it bya gesture. He was too chivalrous to abandon his opponent in anapparent extremity.

  "You wished to say a few more words?" he asked, in a pleasant voice.

  "Yes, a thousand; or rather, no, only one! If you persevere inyour enterprise, you must be a----"

  "Very rash person! How can you treat me as such? me, who havedemanded a cylindro-conical projectile, in order to preventturning round and round on my way like a squirrel?"

  "But, unhappy man, the dreadful recoil will smash you to piecesat your starting."

  "My dear contradictor, you have just put your finger upon thetrue and only difficulty; nevertheless, I have too good anopinion of the industrial genius of the Americans not to believethat they will succeed in overcoming it."

  "But the heat developed by the rapidity of the projectile incrossing the strata of air?"

  "Oh! the walls are thick, and I shall soon have crossedthe atmosphere."

  "But victuals and water?"

  "I have calculated for a twelvemonth's supply, and I shall beonly four days on the journey."

  "But for air to breathe on the road?"

  "I shall make it by a chemical process."

  "But your fall on the moon, supposing you ever reach it?"

  "It will be six times less dangerous than a sudden fall upon theearth, because the weight will be only one-sixth as great on thesurface of the moon."

  "Still it will be enough to smash you like glass!"

  "What is to prevent my retarding the shock by means of rocketsconveniently placed, and lighted at the right moment?"

  "But after all, supposing all difficulties surmounted, allobstacles removed, supposing everything combined to favor you,and granting that you may arrive safe and sound in the moon, howwill you come back?"

  "I am not coming back!"

  At this reply, almost sublime in its very simplicity, theassembly became silent. But its silence was more eloquent thancould have been its cries of enthusiasm. The unknown profitedby the opportunity and once more protested:

  "You will inevitably kill yourself!" he cried; "and your deathwill be that of a madman, useless even to science!"

  "Go on, my dear unknown, for truly your prophecies are most agreeable!"

  "It really is too much!" cried Michel Ardan's adversary. "I donot know why I should continue so frivolous a discussion!Please yourself about this insane expedition! We need nottrouble ourselves about you!"

  "Pray don't stand upon ceremony!"

  "No! another person is responsible for your act."

  "Who, may I ask?" demanded Michel Ardan in an imperious tone.

  "The ignoramus who organized this equally absurd andimpossible experiment!"

  The attack was direct. Barbicane, ever since the interferenceof the unknown, had been making fearful efforts of self-control;now, however, seeing himself directly attacked, he couldrestrain himself no longer. He rose suddenly, and was rushingupon the enemy who thus braved him to the face, when all at oncehe found himself separated from him.

  The platform was lifted by a hundred strong arms, and the presidentof the Gun Club shared with Michel Ardan triumphal honors.The shield was heavy, but the bearers came in continuous relays,disputing, struggling, even fighting among themselves in theireagerness to lend their shoulders to this demonstration.

  However, the unknown had not profited by the tumult to quithis post. Besides he could not have done it in the midst of thatcompact crowd. There he held on in the front row with crossedarms, glaring at President Barbicane.

  The shouts of the immense crowd continued at their highest pitchthroughout this triumphant march. Michel Ardan took it all withevident pleasure. His face gleamed with delight. Several timesthe platform seemed seized with pitching and rolling like aweatherbeaten ship. But the two heros of the meeting had goodsea-legs. They never stumbled; and their vessel arrived withoutdues at the port of Tampa Town.

  Michel Ardan managed fortunately to escape from the lastembraces of his vigorous admirers. He made for the HotelFranklin, quickly gained his chamber, and slid under thebedclothes, while an army of a hundred thousand men kept watchunder his windows.

  During this time a scene, short, grave, and decisive, took placebetween the mysterious personage and the president of the Gun Club.

  Barbicane, free at last, had gone straight at his adversary.

  "Come!" he said shortly.

  The other followed him on the quay; and the two presently foundthemselves alone at the entrance of an open wharf on Jones' Fall.

  The two enemies, still mutually unknown, gazed at each other.

  "Who are you?" asked Barbicane.

  "Captain Nicholl!"

  "So I suspected. Hitherto chance has never thrown you in my way."

  "I am come for that purpose."

  "You have insulted me."

  "Publicly!"

  "And you will answer to me for this insult?"

  "At this very moment."

  "No! I desire that all that passes between us shall be secret.Their is a wood situated three miles from Tampa, the woodof Skersnaw. Do you know it?"

  "I know it."

  "Will you be so good as to enter it to-morrow morning at fiveo'clock, on one side?"

  "Yes! if you will enter at the other side at the same hour."

  "And you will not forget your rifle?" said Barbicane.

  "No more than you will forget yours?" replied Nicholl.

  These words having been coldly spoken, the president of the GunClub and the captain parted. Barbicane returned to his lodging;but instead of snatching a few hours of repose, he passed thenight in endeavoring to discover a means of evading the recoilof the projectile, and resolving the difficult problem proposedby Michel Ardan during the discussion at the meeting.