From the Earth to the Moon; and, Round the Moon by Jules Verne Read Free Book Online Page B

take no further notice of it; we must follow it throughout
its course, up to the moment when it shall reach its goal."
    "What?" shouted the general and the major in great surprise.
    "Undoubtedly," replied Barbicane composedly, "or our experiment
would produce no result."
    "But then," replied the major, "you will have to give this
projectile enormous dimensions."
    "No! Be so good as to listen. You know that optical
instruments have acquired great perfection; with certain
instruments we have succeeded in obtaining enlargements of 6,000
times and reducing the moon to within forty miles' distance.
Now, at this distance, any objects sixty feet square would be
perfectly visible.
    "If, then, the penetrative power of telescopes has not been
further increased, it is because that power detracts from their
light; and the moon, which is but a reflecting mirror, does not
give back sufficient light to enable us to perceive objects of
lesser magnitude."
    "Well, then, what do you propose to do?" asked the general.
"Would you give your projectile a diameter of sixty feet?"
    "Not so."
    "Do you intend, then, to increase the luminous power of the moon?"
    "Exactly so. If I can succeed in diminishing the density of the
atmosphere through which the moon's light has to travel I shall
have rendered her light more intense. To effect that object it
will be enough to establish a telescope on some elevated mountain.
That is what we will do."
    "I give it up," answered the major. "You have such a way of
simplifying things. And what enlargement do you expect to
obtain in this way?"
    "One of 48,000 times, which should bring the moon within an
apparent distance of five miles; and, in order to be visible,
objects need not have a diameter of more than nine feet."
    "So, then," cried J. T. Maston, "our projectile need not be more
than nine feet in diameter."
    "Let me observe, however," interrupted Major Elphinstone, "this
will involve a weight such as——"
    "My dear major," replied Barbicane, "before discussing its
weight permit me to enumerate some of the marvels which our
ancestors have achieved in this respect. I don't mean to
pretend that the science of gunnery has not advanced, but it
is as well to bear in mind that during the middle ages they
obtained results more surprising, I will venture to say, than ours.
For instance, during the siege of Constantinople by Mahomet II.,
in 1453, stone shot of 1,900 pounds weight were employed. At Malta,
in the time of the knights, there was a gun of the fortress of St.
Elmo which threw a projectile weighing 2,500 pounds. And, now,
what is the extent of what we have seen ourselves? Armstrong guns
discharging shot of 500 pounds, and the Rodman guns projectiles
of half a ton! It seems, then, that if projectiles have gained
in range, they have lost far more in weight. Now, if we turn our
efforts in that direction, we ought to arrive, with the progress
on science, at ten times the weight of the shot of Mahomet II.
and the Knights of Malta."
    "Clearly," replied the major; "but what metal do you calculate
upon employing?"
    "Simply cast iron," said General Morgan.
    "But," interrupted the major, "since the weight of a shot is
proportionate to its volume, an iron ball of nine feet in
diameter would be of tremendous weight."
    "Yes, if it were solid, not if it were hollow."
    "Hollow? then it would be a shell?"
    "Yes, a shell," replied Barbicane; "decidely it must be. A solid
shot of 108 inches would weigh more than 200,000 pounds, a weight
evidently far too great. Still, as we must reserve a certain
stability for our projectile, I propose to give it a weight of
20,000 pounds."
    "What, then, will be the thickness of the sides?" asked the major.
    "If we follow the usual proportion," replied Morgan, "a diameter
of 108 inches would require sides of two feet thickness, or less."
    "That would be too much," replied Barbicane; "for you will
observe that the question is not that of a shot intended to
pierce an iron plate; it will suffice to