The notice from Long’s Peak once made known,
there spread throughout the universe a feeling of
surprise and horror. Was it possible to go to
the aid of these bold inhabitants of the earth?
Certainly not, for they had put themselves outside
of the pale of humanity by crossing the limits imposed
by the Creator on His terrestrial creatures. They
could procure themselves air for two months; they
had provisions for one year; but after? The hardest
hearts palpitated at this terrible question.
One man alone would not admit that the situation was
desperate. One alone had confidence, and it was
their friend—devoted, audacious, and resolute
as they—the brave J.T. Maston.
He resolved not to lose sight of them. His domicile
was henceforth the post of Long’s Peak—his
horizon the immense reflector. As soon as the
moon rose above the horizon he immediately framed her
in the field of his telescope; he did not lose sight
of her for an instant, and assiduously followed her
across the stellar spaces; he watched with eternal
patience the passage of the projectile over her disc
of silver, and in reality the worthy man remained
in perpetual communication with his three friends,
whom he did not despair of seeing again one day.
“We will correspond with them,” said he
to any one who would listen, “as soon as circumstances
will allow. We shall have news from them, and
they will have news from us. Besides, I know
them—they are ingenious men. Those
three carry with them into space all the resources
of art, science, and industry. With those everything
can be accomplished, and you will see that they will
get out of the difficulty.”
(FOR SEQUEL, SEE “AROUND THE MOON.”)
[Illustration: “They watched thus through
the lateral windows.”]
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INTRODUCTION.
PRELIMINARY CHAPTER.
CONTAINING A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST PART OF THIS
WORK TO SERVE AS PREFACE TO THE SECOND.
During the course of the year 186——
the entire world was singularly excited by a scientific
experiment without precedent in the annals of science.
The members of the Gun Club, a circle of artillerymen
established at Baltimore after the American war, had
the idea of putting themselves in communication with
the moon—yes, with the moon—by
sending a bullet to her. Their president, Barbicane,
the promoter of the enterprise, having consulted the
astronomers of the Cambridge Observatory on this subject,
took all the precautions necessary for the success
of the extraordinary enterprise, declared practicable
by the majority of competent people. After having
solicited a public subscription which produced nearly
30,000,000 of francs, it began its gigantic labours.
