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This provoked from Michel a reflection that seemed correct enough. "If ever we recommence our journey, we shall do well to choose the epoch when the moon is new." "True," answered Nicholl, "that circumstance would have been more favourable. I agree that the moon, bathed in sunlight, would not be visible during the passage, but on the other hand the earth would be full.
"Because if you win the first the Columbiad will have burst, and the bullet with it, and Barbicane will not be there to pay you your dollars." "My wager is deposited in the Baltimore Bank," answered Barbicane simply; "and in default of Nicholl it will go to his heirs." "What practical men you are!" cried Michel Ardan. "I admire you as much as I do not understand you."
During that time the calculating Nicholl looked over the formulae of trajectories, and worked away at figures with unparalleled dexterity.
"Since there is nothing else to be done," said Nicholl, "I make a proposition." "What is it?" asked Barbicane. "I propose to go to sleep." "What a motion!" exclaimed Michel Ardan. "It is forty hours since we closed our eyes," said Nicholl. "Some hours of sleep will restore our strength." "Never," interrupted Michel. "Well," continued Nicholl, "every one to his taste; I shall go to sleep."
The moon and the earth were nothing but gaseous masses originally. These gases have passed into a liquid state under different influences, and the solid masses have been formed later. But most certainly our sphere was still gaseous or liquid, when the moon was solidified by cooling, and had become habitable." "I believe it," said Nicholl.
"What do you mean by that, Nicholl?" asked Barbicane gravely. "To ask for means to leave a country," added Michel, "When we have not yet arrived there, seems to me rather inopportune." "I do not say that, wishing to draw back," replied Nicholl; "but I repeat my question, and I ask, `How shall we return?" "I know nothing about it," answered Barbicane.
"Between President Barbicane and me," answered Nicholl gravely, "there is such rivalry that the death of one of us " "Come, come!" resumed Michel Ardan, "brave men like you may detest one another, but they respect one another too. You will not fight." "I shall fight, sir." "No you won't."
The cannon was then finished; there was no longer any possible doubt as to its perfect execution; so on the 6th of October Captain Nicholl cleared off his debt to President Barbicane, who inscribed in his receipt-column a sum of 2,000 dollars. It may be believed that the captain's anger reached its highest pitch, and cost him an illness.
At last, there being a Providence even for artillerymen, nothing blew up, and the loading was happily terminated. The third bet of Captain Nicholl was therefore much imperilled. There still remained the work of introducing the projectile into the Columbiad and placing it on the thick bed of gun-cotton.
I should not be surprised if it did not look like a meteor on fire to the eyes of the spectators in Florida." "But then J. T. Maston will think we are roasted!" "What astonishes me," said Barbicane, "is that we have not been. That was a danger we had not provided for." "I feared it," said Nicholl simply.
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