Final Details

It was the 22nd of November; the departure was to take place in ten days. One operation alone remained to be accomplished to bring all to a happy termination; an operation delicate and perilous, requiring infinite precautions, and against the success of which Captain Nicholl had laid his third bet. It was, in fact, nothing less than the loading of the Columbiad, and the introduction into it of 400,000 pounds of gun-cotton. Nicholl had thought, not perhaps without reason, that the handling of such formidable quantities of pyroxyle would, in all probability, involve a grave catastrophe; and at any rate, that this immense mass of eminently inflammable matter would inevitably ignite when submitted to the pressure of the projectile.

It was November 22, and the departure was set for ten days later. Only one operation remained before everything could end happily. It was delicate and dangerous, and required endless precautions. Captain Nicholl had placed his third bet against its success. The operation was nothing less than loading the Columbiad with 400,000 pounds of gun-cotton. Nicholl thought that handling such a huge quantity of pyroxyle would most likely cause a serious disaster. Perhaps he had good reason to think so. In any case, he believed that the enormous mass of highly flammable material would inevitably ignite under the projectile's pressure.

There were indeed dangers accruing as before from the carelessness of the Americans, but Barbicane had set his heart on success, and took all possible precautions. In the first place, he was very careful as to the transportation of the gun-cotton to Stones Hill. He had it conveyed in small quantities, carefully packed in sealed cases. These were brought by rail from Tampa Town to the camp, and from thence were taken to the Columbiad by barefooted workmen, who deposited them in their places by means of cranes placed at the orifice of the cannon. No steam-engine was permitted to work, and every fire was extinguished within two miles of the works.

The carelessness of the Americans still posed dangers, as before. But Barbicane was determined to succeed and took every possible precaution. First, he took great care in transporting the gun-cotton to Stones Hill. He had it packed in sealed cases and sent in small quantities. The cases traveled by rail from Tampa Town to the camp. From there, barefoot workers carried them to the Columbiad. The workers used cranes at the cannon's opening to lower the cases into place. No steam engines were allowed to operate, and every fire within two miles of the worksite was put out.

Even in November they feared to work by day, lest the sun’s rays acting on the gun-cotton might lead to unhappy results. This led to their working at night, by light produced in a vacuum by means of Ruhmkorff’s apparatus, which threw an artificial brightness into the depths of the Columbiad. There the cartridges were arranged with the utmost regularity, connected by a metallic thread, destined to communicate to them all simultaneously the electric spark, by which means this mass of gun-cotton was eventually to be ignited.

Even in November, they feared that sunlight might cause the gun-cotton to ignite if they worked during the day. So they worked at night, using light produced in a vacuum by Ruhmkorff’s apparatus. This artificial light illuminated the depths of the Columbiad. There, they arranged the cartridges with the utmost care. They connected them with a metal wire that would carry an electric spark to all of them at once. The spark would eventually ignite the whole mass of gun-cotton.

By the 28th of November eight hundred cartridges had been placed in the bottom of the Columbiad. So far the operation had been successful! But what confusion, what anxieties, what struggles were undergone by President Barbicane! In vain had he refused admission to Stones Hill; every day the inquisitive neighbors scaled the palisades, some even carrying their imprudence to the point of smoking while surrounded by bales of gun-cotton. Barbicane was in a perpetual state of alarm. J. T. Maston seconded him to the best of his ability, by giving vigorous chase to the intruders, and carefully picking up the still lighted cigar ends which the Yankees threw about. A somewhat difficult task! seeing that more than 300,000 persons were gathered round the enclosure. Michel Ardan had volunteered to superintend the transport of the cartridges to the mouth of the Columbiad; but the president, having surprised him with an enormous cigar in his mouth, while he was hunting out the rash spectators to whom he himself offered so dangerous an example, saw that he could not trust this fearless smoker, and was therefore obliged to mount a special guard over him.

By November 28, eight hundred cartridges had been placed at the bottom of the Columbiad. So far, the operation had succeeded! But what confusion, anxiety, and struggles President Barbicane had endured! He had forbidden entry to Stones Hill, but to no avail. Every day, curious neighbors climbed over the fences. Some were reckless enough to smoke among the bales of gun-cotton. Barbicane was constantly on edge. J. T. Maston helped as best he could, vigorously chasing the intruders and carefully picking up the still-lit cigar ends the Yankees threw about. It was a difficult task, with more than 300,000 people gathered around the enclosure! Michel Ardan had volunteered to oversee the transport of the cartridges to the mouth of the Columbiad. But the president caught him with an enormous cigar in his mouth while he was chasing away the reckless spectators. Ardan himself was setting them a dangerous example. Barbicane saw that he could not trust this fearless smoker and had to place a special guard over him.

At last, Providence being propitious, this wonderful loading came to a happy termination, Captain Nicholl’s third bet being thus lost. It remained now to introduce the projectile into the Columbiad, and to place it on its soft bed of gun-cotton.

At last, with Providence on their side, the remarkable loading was completed successfully. Captain Nicholl had thus lost his third bet. All that remained was to put the projectile into the Columbiad and place it on its soft bed of gun-cotton.

But before doing this, all those things necessary for the journey had to be carefully arranged in the projectile vehicle. These necessaries were numerous; and had Ardan been allowed to follow his own wishes, there would have been no space remaining for the travelers. It is impossible to conceive of half the things this charming Frenchman wished to convey to the moon. A veritable stock of useless trifles! But Barbicane interfered and refused admission to anything not absolutely needed. Several thermometers, barometers, and telescopes were packed in the instrument case.

But before doing this, they had to carefully arrange everything needed for the journey inside the projectile vehicle. There were many necessities. If Ardan had had his way, there would have been no room left for the travelers. It is impossible to imagine even half the things this charming Frenchman wanted to take to the moon. A whole collection of useless trinkets! But Barbicane stepped in and refused to allow anything that was not absolutely necessary. Several thermometers, barometers, and telescopes were packed in the instrument case.

The travelers being desirous of examing the moon carefully during their voyage, in order to facilitate their studies, they took with them Boeer and Moeller’s excellent Mappa Selenographica, a masterpiece of patience and observation, which they hoped would enable them to identify those physical features in the moon, with which they were acquainted. This map reproduced with scrupulous fidelity the smallest details of the lunar surface which faces the earth; the mountains, valleys, craters, peaks, and ridges were all represented, with their exact dimensions, relative positions, and names; from the mountains Doerfel and Leibnitz on the eastern side of the disc, to the Mare frigoris of the North Pole.

The travelers wanted to study the moon carefully during their voyage. To help them, they brought Boeer and Moeller’s excellent Mappa Selenographica, a masterpiece of patience and observation. They hoped it would help them identify lunar features they already knew about. The map showed even the smallest details of the moon’s surface facing the earth with painstaking accuracy. It included all the mountains, valleys, craters, peaks, and ridges, with their exact dimensions, positions relative to one another, and names. These features ranged from the Doerfel and Leibnitz mountains on the eastern side of the disc to the Mare frigoris at the North Pole.

They took also three rifles and three fowling-pieces, and a large quantity of balls, shot, and powder.

They also took three rifles, three shotguns, and a large quantity of bullets, shot, and gunpowder.

“We cannot tell whom we shall have to deal with,” said Michel Ardan. “Men or beasts may possibly object to our visit. It is only wise to take all precautions.”

“We don’t know who we’ll have to deal with,” said Michel Ardan. “Men or animals may object to our visit. It’s only wise to take every precaution.”

These defensive weapons were accompanied by pickaxes, crowbars, saws, and other useful implements, not to mention clothing adapted to every temperature, from that of polar regions to that of the torrid zone.

Along with these defensive weapons were pickaxes, crowbars, saws, and other useful tools. There was also clothing for every temperature, from the polar regions to the tropics.

Ardan wished to convey a number of animals of different sorts, not indeed a pair of every known species, as he could not see the necessity of acclimatizing serpents, tigers, alligators, or any other noxious beasts in the moon. “Nevertheless,” he said to Barbicane, “some valuable and useful beasts, bullocks, cows, horses, and donkeys, would bear the journey very well, and would also be very useful to us.”

Ardan wanted to take several kinds of animals with him, though not a pair of every known species. He saw no need to introduce snakes, tigers, alligators, or other harmful beasts to the moon. “Still,” he said to Barbicane, “some valuable and useful animals, such as oxen, cows, horses, and donkeys, would travel very well. They would also be very useful to us.”

“I dare say, my dear Ardan,” replied the president, “but our projectile-vehicle is no Noah’s ark, from which it differs both in dimensions and object. Let us confine ourselves to possibilities.”

“I suppose so, my dear Ardan,” replied the president, “but our projectile-vehicle is no Noah’s ark. It differs from the ark in both size and purpose. Let us stick to what is possible.”

After a prolonged discussion, it was agreed that the travelers should restrict themselves to a sporting-dog belonging to Nicholl, and to a large Newfoundland. Several packets of seeds were also included among the necessaries. Michel Ardan, indeed, was anxious to add some sacks full of earth to sow them in; as it was, he took a dozen shrubs carefully wrapped up in straw to plant in the moon.

After a long discussion, the travelers agreed to take only two dogs: Nicholl's sporting dog and a large Newfoundland. They also packed several packets of seeds. Michel Ardan wanted to add some sacks of earth to sow the seeds in. Instead, he took a dozen shrubs, carefully wrapped in straw, to plant on the moon.

The important question of provisions still remained; it being necessary to provide against the possibility of their finding the moon absolutely barren. Barbicane managed so successfully, that he supplied them with sufficient rations for a year. These consisted of preserved meats and vegetables, reduced by strong hydraulic pressure to the smallest possible dimensions. They were also supplied with brandy, and took water enough for two months, being confident, from astronomical observations, that there was no lack of water on the moon’s surface. As to provisions, doubtless the inhabitants of the earth would find nourishment somewhere in the moon. Ardan never questioned this; indeed, had he done so, he would never have undertaken the journey.

The important question of provisions still remained. They had to prepare for the possibility that the moon was completely barren. Barbicane handled this so well that he supplied them with enough food for a year. It consisted of preserved meats and vegetables, compressed by powerful hydraulic pressure to take up as little space as possible. They also had brandy and enough water for two months. Astronomical observations had convinced them that there was plenty of water on the moon’s surface. As for food, surely the inhabitants of the earth would find something to eat somewhere on the moon. Ardan never doubted this. If he had, he would never have undertaken the journey.

“Besides,” he said one day to his friends, “we shall not be completely abandoned by our terrestrial friends; they will take care not to forget us.”

“Besides,” he said to his friends one day, “our friends on Earth won’t completely abandon us. They’ll make sure not to forget us.”

“No, indeed!” replied J. T. Maston.

“No, absolutely not!” replied J. T. Maston.

“Nothing would be simpler,” replied Ardan; “the Columbiad will be always there. Well! whenever the moon is in a favorable condition as to the zenith, if not to the perigee, that is to say about once a year, could you not send us a shell packed with provisions, which we might expect on some appointed day?”

“Nothing could be simpler,” Ardan replied. “The Columbiad will always be there. Well, about once a year, the moon is in a favorable position near the zenith, if not at perigee. Could you send us a shell packed with provisions then? We could expect it on an agreed day.”

“Hurrah! hurrah!” cried J. T. Matson; “what an ingenious fellow! what a splendid idea! Indeed, my good friends, we shall not forget you!”

“Hurrah! Hurrah!” cried J. T. Matson. “What a clever fellow! What a brilliant idea! My good friends, we certainly won’t forget you!”

“I shall reckon upon you! Then, you see, we shall receive news regularly from the earth, and we shall indeed be stupid if we hit upon no plan for communicating with our good friends here!”

“I’ll count on you! You see, we’ll receive regular news from Earth. And we’d be very stupid if we couldn’t find a way to communicate with our good friends here!”

These words inspired such confidence, that Michel Ardan carried all the Gun Club with him in his enthusiasm. What he said seemed so simple and so easy, so sure of success, that none could be so sordidly attached to this earth as to hesitate to follow the three travelers on their lunar expedition.

These words inspired such confidence that Michel Ardan swept the entire Gun Club along with his enthusiasm. His plan seemed so simple, so easy, and so certain to succeed. No one could be so selfishly attached to Earth as to hesitate to follow the three travelers on their lunar expedition.

All being ready at last, it remained to place the projectile in the Columbiad, an operation abundantly accompanied by dangers and difficulties.

At last, everything was ready. All that remained was to place the projectile in the Columbiad, a task fraught with danger and difficulty.

The enormous shell was conveyed to the summit of Stones Hill. There, powerful cranes raised it, and held it suspended over the mouth of the cylinder.

The enormous shell was carried to the top of Stones Hill. There, powerful cranes lifted it and held it over the opening of the cylinder.

It was a fearful moment! What if the chains should break under its enormous weight? The sudden fall of such a body would inevitably cause the gun-cotton to explode!

It was a terrifying moment! What if the chains broke under its enormous weight? If something so heavy fell suddenly, it would surely make the gun-cotton explode!

Fortunately this did not happen; and some hours later the projectile-vehicle descended gently into the heart of the cannon and rested on its couch of pyroxyle, a veritable bed of explosive eider-down. Its pressure had no result, other than the more effectual ramming down of the charge in the Columbiad.

Fortunately, this did not happen. Some hours later, the projectile-vehicle descended gently into the heart of the cannon. It came to rest on its bed of pyroxyle, a real bed of explosive down. Its weight did nothing but pack the charge in the Columbiad more tightly.

“I have lost,” said the captain, who forthwith paid President Barbicane the sum of three thousand dollars.

“I have lost,” said the captain. He immediately paid President Barbicane three thousand dollars.

Barbicane did not wish to accept the money from one of his fellow-travelers, but gave way at last before the determination of Nicholl, who wished before leaving the earth to fulfill all his engagements.

Barbicane did not want to accept money from a fellow traveler, but he finally gave in to Nicholl. Nicholl was determined to fulfill all his commitments before leaving Earth.

“Now,” said Michel Ardan, “I have only one thing more to wish for you, my brave captain.”

“Now,” said Michel Ardan, “there's only one more thing I wish for you, my brave captain.”

“What is that?” asked Nicholl.

“What is that?” asked Nicholl.

“It is that you may lose your two other bets! Then we shall be sure not to be stopped on our journey!”

“So that you may lose your other two bets! Then we’ll be sure not to be stopped on our journey!”