Chapter 8

At 78,514 Leagues

12 min

What had happened? Whence the cause of this singular intoxication, the consequences of which might have been very disastrous? A simple blunder of Michel’s, which, fortunately, Nicholl was able to correct in time.

What had happened? What had caused this strange intoxication, which might have had disastrous consequences? It was a simple mistake by Michel, which Nicholl fortunately managed to correct in time.

After a perfect swoon, which lasted some minutes, the captain, recovering first, soon collected his scattered senses. Although he had breakfasted only two hours before, he felt a gnawing hunger, as if he had not eaten anything for several days. Everything about him, stomach and brain, were overexcited to the highest degree. He got up and demanded from Michel a supplementary repast. Michel, utterly done up, did not answer.

After being completely unconscious for several minutes, the captain was the first to recover. He soon gathered his senses. Although he had eaten breakfast only two hours earlier, he felt a gnawing hunger, as if he had not eaten for days. His whole body, from his stomach to his brain, was intensely stimulated. He got up and demanded another meal from Michel. Michel was utterly exhausted and did not answer.

Nicholl then tried to prepare some tea destined to help the absorption of a dozen sandwiches. He first tried to get some fire, and struck a match sharply. What was his surprise to see the sulphur shine with so extraordinary a brilliancy as to be almost unbearable to the eye. From the gas-burner which he lit rose a flame equal to a jet of electric light.

Nicholl then tried to make some tea to help wash down a dozen sandwiches. He first tried to start a fire and struck a match sharply. To his surprise, the sulfur burned so brightly that it was almost unbearable to look at. He lit the gas burner, and its flame was as bright as a beam of electric light.

A revelation dawned on Nicholl’s mind. That intensity of light, the physiological troubles which had arisen in him, the overexcitement of all his moral and quarrelsome faculties—he understood all.

A realization dawned on Nicholl. The intense light, the physical problems he had experienced, the overstimulation of all his moral and quarrelsome impulses. He understood it all.

“The oxygen!” he exclaimed.

And leaning over the air apparatus, he saw that the tap was allowing the colorless gas to escape freely, life-giving, but in its pure state producing the gravest disorders in the system. Michel had blunderingly opened the tap of the apparatus to the full.

He leaned over the air apparatus and saw that colorless gas was escaping freely from the tap. The gas gave life, but in its pure state it caused the most serious disorders in the body. Michel had clumsily opened the apparatus tap all the way.

Nicholl hastened to stop the escape of oxygen with which the atmosphere was saturated, which would have been the death of the travelers, not by suffocation, but by combustion. An hour later, the air less charged with it restored the lungs to their normal condition. By degrees the three friends recovered from their intoxication; but they were obliged to sleep themselves sober over their oxygen as a drunkard does over his wine.

Nicholl hurried to stop the flow of oxygen that had saturated the air. It would have killed the travelers, not by suffocation, but by combustion. An hour later, the air held less oxygen, and their lungs returned to normal. Gradually, the three friends recovered from their intoxication. But they had to sleep off the effects of the oxygen, just as a drunkard sleeps off his wine.

When Michel learned his share of the responsibility of this incident, he was not much disconcerted. This unexpected drunkenness broke the monotony of the journey. Many foolish things had been said while under its influence, but also quickly forgotten.

When Michel learned of his part in the incident, he was not very upset. The unexpected drunkenness broke the monotony of the journey. Many foolish things had been said while they were drunk, but they were quickly forgotten.

“And then,” added the merry Frenchman, “I am not sorry to have tasted a little of this heady gas. Do you know, my friends, that a curious establishment might be founded with rooms of oxygen, where people whose system is weakened could for a few hours live a more active life. Fancy parties where the room was saturated with this heroic fluid, theaters where it should be kept at high pressure; what passion in the souls of the actors and spectators! what fire, what enthusiasm! And if, instead of an assembly only a whole people could be saturated, what activity in its functions, what a supplement to life it would derive. From an exhausted nation they might make a great and strong one, and I know more than one state in old Europe which ought to put itself under the regime of oxygen for the sake of its health!”

“And another thing,” added the cheerful Frenchman, “I’m glad I got a taste of this intoxicating gas. You know, my friends, someone could set up an unusual establishment with oxygen rooms. People in poor health could go there and live more actively for a few hours. Imagine parties in rooms filled with this heroic gas, or theaters where it was kept under high pressure. What passion the actors and audiences would feel! What fire, what enthusiasm! And if you could fill a whole people with oxygen, instead of just a gathering, imagine how much more active they would be. What a boost to life they would get! An exhausted nation could be made great and strong. And I know more than one state in old Europe that ought to try an oxygen treatment for its health!”

Michel spoke with so much animation that one might have fancied that the tap was still too open. But a few words from Barbicane soon shattered his enthusiasm.

Michel spoke so excitedly that one might have thought the tap was still open too far. But a few words from Barbicane soon shattered his enthusiasm.

“That is all very well, friend Michel,” said he, “but will you inform us where these chickens came from which have mixed themselves up in our concert?”

“That’s all very well, Michel,” he said, “but where did these chickens come from? How did they join our concert?”

“Those chickens?”

“Yes.”

Indeed, half a dozen chickens and a fine cock were walking about, flapping their wings and chattering.

Indeed, half a dozen chickens and a fine rooster were walking around, flapping their wings and chattering.

“Ah, the awkward things!” exclaimed Michel. “The oxygen has made them revolt.”

“Oh, those clumsy things!” exclaimed Michel. “The oxygen has made them rebel.”

“But what do you want to do with these chickens?” asked Barbicane.

“To acclimatize them in the moon, by Jove!”

“To help them get used to life on the moon, by Jove!”

“Then why did you hide them?”

“A joke, my worthy president, a simple joke, which has proved a miserable failure. I wanted to set them free on the lunar continent, without saying anything. Oh, what would have been your amazement on seeing these earthly-winged animals pecking in your lunar fields!”

“It was a joke, my dear president, a simple joke that failed miserably. I wanted to set them free on the lunar continent without saying anything. Oh, how amazed you would have been to see these winged creatures from Earth pecking in your lunar fields!”

“You rascal, you unmitigated rascal,” replied Barbicane, “you do not want oxygen to mount to the head. You are always what we were under the influence of the gas; you are always foolish!”

“You rascal, you complete rascal,” replied Barbicane. “You don't need oxygen to go to your head. You're always the way we were under the influence of the gas. You're always foolish!”

“Ah, who says that we were not wise then?” replied Michel Ardan.

“Ah, who says we weren't wise then?” replied Michel Ardan.

After this philosophical reflection, the three friends set about restoring the order of the projectile. Chickens and cock were reinstated in their coop. But while proceeding with this operation, Barbicane and his two companions had a most desired perception of a new phenomenon. From the moment of leaving the earth, their own weight, that of the projectile, and the objects it enclosed, had been subject to an increasing diminution. If they could not prove this loss of the projectile, a moment would arrive when it would be sensibly felt upon themselves and the utensils and instruments they used.

After this philosophical reflection, the three friends set about putting the projectile back in order. They returned the chickens and the rooster to their coop. But while doing so, Barbicane and his two companions observed a new phenomenon they had been eager to see. Since leaving Earth, they, the projectile, and everything inside it had been steadily losing weight. Though they could not measure the projectile’s loss of weight, they would eventually feel it in themselves and in the utensils and instruments they used.

It is needless to say that a scale would not show this loss; for the weight destined to weight the object would have lost exactly as much as the object itself; but a spring steelyard for example, the tension of which was independent of the attraction, would have given a just estimate of this loss.

Of course, a balance scale would not show this loss. The weight used to weigh the object would have lost exactly as much weight as the object itself. But a spring scale, for example, would have measured the loss accurately because its tension did not depend on gravity.

We know that the attraction, otherwise called the weight, is in proportion to the densities of the bodies, and inversely as the squares of the distances. Hence this effect: If the earth had been alone in space, if the other celestial bodies had been suddenly annihilated, the projectile, according to Newton’s laws, would weigh less as it got farther from the earth, but without ever losing its weight entirely, for the terrestrial attraction would always have made itself felt, at whatever distance.

We know that attraction, also called weight, is proportional to the densities of bodies. It is inversely proportional to the squares of the distances between them. This has a consequence. Suppose the earth had been alone in space and the other celestial bodies had suddenly been destroyed. According to Newton’s laws, the projectile would weigh less as it traveled farther from the earth. But it would never lose its weight entirely. The earth’s attraction would still be felt, no matter how far away the projectile traveled.

But, in reality, a time must come when the projectile would no longer be subject to the law of weight, after allowing for the other celestial bodies whose effect could not be set down as zero. Indeed, the projectile’s course was being traced between the earth and the moon. As it distanced the earth, the terrestrial attraction diminished: but the lunar attraction rose in proportion. There must come a point where these two attractions would neutralize each other: the projectile would possess weight no longer. If the moon’s and the earth’s densities had been equal, this point would have been at an equal distance between the two orbs. But taking the different densities into consideration, it was easy to reckon that this point would be situated at 47/60ths of the whole journey, i.e., at 78,514 leagues from the earth. At this point, a body having no principle of speed or displacement in itself, would remain immovable forever, being attracted equally by both orbs, and not being drawn more toward one than toward the other.

But in reality, a time would come when the projectile would no longer be subject to the law of weight. This allowed for the other celestial bodies, whose effects could not be treated as zero. The projectile was traveling between the earth and the moon. As it moved away from the earth, the earth’s attraction weakened, while the moon’s attraction increased in proportion. There had to be a point where the two attractions would cancel each other out. At that point, the projectile would no longer have weight. If the moon and the earth had equal densities, the point would have been halfway between them. But taking their different densities into account, it was easy to calculate its location. It would be 47/60ths of the way along the journey, i.e., 78,514 leagues from the earth. At this point, a body with no motion or movement of its own would remain still forever. Both bodies would attract it equally, and neither would pull it more strongly than the other.

Now if the projectile’s impulsive force had been correctly calculated, it would attain this point without speed, having lost all trace of weight, as well as all the objects within it. What would happen then? Three hypotheses presented themselves.

Now, if the projectile’s initial force had been calculated correctly, it would reach this point with no speed. The projectile and everything inside it would have lost all weight. What would happen then? Three possibilities came to mind.

1. Either it would retain a certain amount of motion, and pass the point of equal attraction, and fall upon the moon by virtue of the excess of the lunar attraction over the terrestrial.

1. Either it would keep moving and pass the point where the two gravitational pulls are equal. Then it would fall onto the moon, because the moon’s pull would be stronger than the earth’s.

2. Or, its speed failing, and unable to reach the point of equal attraction, it would fall upon the moon by virtue of the excess of the lunar attraction over the terrestrial.

2. Or, if it lost speed and could not reach the point of equal attraction, it would fall onto the moon. This would happen because the moon's gravitational pull was stronger than the earth's.

3. Or, lastly, animated with sufficient speed to enable it to reach the neutral point, but not sufficient to pass it, it would remain forever suspended in that spot like the pretended tomb of Mahomet, between the zenith and the nadir.

3. Or, finally, it might have enough speed to reach the neutral point, but not enough to pass it. It would then remain suspended there forever, between the zenith and the nadir, like the supposed tomb of Mahomet.

Such was their situation; and Barbicane clearly explained the consequences to his traveling companions, which greatly interested them. But how should they know when the projectile had reached this neutral point situated at that distance, especially when neither themselves, nor the objects enclosed in the projectile, would be any longer subject to the laws of weight?

That was their situation. Barbicane clearly explained the consequences to his traveling companions, who were greatly interested. But how could they know when the projectile had reached that distant neutral point? This was especially difficult because neither they nor the objects inside the projectile would be subject to the laws of weight.

Up to this time, the travelers, while admitting that this action was constantly decreasing, had not yet become sensible to its total absence.

Until then, the travelers acknowledged that this action was steadily weakening, but they had not yet felt its complete absence.

But that day, about eleven o’clock in the morning, Nicholl having accidentally let a glass slip from his hand, the glass, instead of falling, remained suspended in the air.

But that day, around eleven in the morning, Nicholl accidentally let a glass slip from his hand. Instead of falling, the glass stayed suspended in the air.

“Ah!” exclaimed Michel Ardan, “that is rather an amusing piece of natural philosophy.”

“Ah!” exclaimed Michel Ardan, “that is a rather amusing bit of science.”

And immediately divers other objects, firearms and bottles, abandoned to themselves, held themselves up as by enchantment. Diana too, placed in space by Michel, reproduced, but without any trick, the wonderful suspension practiced by Caston and Robert Houdin. Indeed the dog did not seem to know that she was floating in air.

And immediately, several other objects, including firearms and bottles, floated unsupported as if by magic. Michel placed Diana in the air too. She floated like Caston and Robert Houdin in their amazing levitation acts, but without any trick. Indeed, the dog did not seem to know she was floating in the air.

The three adventurous companions were surprised and stupefied, despite their scientific reasonings. They felt themselves being carried into the domain of wonders! they felt that weight was really wanting to their bodies. If they stretched out their arms, they did not attempt to fall. Their heads shook on their shoulders. Their feet no longer clung to the floor of the projectile. They were like drunken men having no stability in themselves.

Despite their scientific reasoning, the three adventurous companions were astonished and stunned. They felt themselves entering a realm of wonders! They could feel that their bodies really had no weight. If they stretched out their arms, their arms did not fall. Their heads swayed on their shoulders. Their feet no longer stayed on the floor of the projectile. They were like drunken men, unable to keep their balance.

Fancy has depicted men without reflection, others without shadow. But here reality, by the neutralizations of attractive forces, produced men in whom nothing had any weight, and who weighed nothing themselves.

Imagination has pictured men without reflections and others without shadows. But here, the forces of attraction canceled each other out. In reality, the men had no weight, and nothing they held had any weight either.

Suddenly Michel, taking a spring, left the floor and remained suspended in the air, like Murillo’s monk of the Cusine des Anges.

Suddenly Michel jumped off the floor and remained suspended in the air, like the monk in Murillo’s Cusine des Anges.

The two friends joined him instantly, and all three formed a miraculous “Ascension” in the center of the projectile.

The two friends joined him at once, and all three formed a miraculous “Ascension” in the center of the projectile.

“Is it to be believed? is it probable? is it possible?” exclaimed Michel; “and yet it is so. Ah! if Raphael had seen us thus, what an ‘Assumption’ he would have thrown upon canvas!”

“Can it be believed? Is it probable? Is it possible?” exclaimed Michel. “And yet it is true. Ah! If Raphael had seen us like this, what an ‘Assumption’ he would have painted!”

“The ‘Assumption’ cannot last,” replied Barbicane. “If the projectile passes the neutral point, the lunar attraction will draw us to the moon.”

“The ‘Assumption’ cannot last,” Barbicane replied. “If the projectile passes the neutral point, the moon’s gravity will pull us toward it.”

“Then our feet will be upon the roof,” replied Michel.

“Then our feet will be on the roof,” replied Michel.

“No,” said Barbicane, “because the projectile’s center of gravity is very low; it will only turn by degrees.”

“No,” said Barbicane, “because the projectile’s center of gravity is very low. It will only turn gradually.”

“Then all our portables will be upset from top to bottom, that is a fact.”

“Then all our belongings will be turned upside down. That’s a fact.”

“Calm yourself, Michel,” replied Nicholl; “no upset is to be feared; not a thing will move, for the projectile’s evolution will be imperceptible.”

“Calm down, Michel,” replied Nicholl. “There’s no danger of an upset. Nothing will move, because the projectile’s movement will be imperceptible.”

“Just so,” continued Barbicane; “and when it has passed the point of equal attraction, its base, being the heavier, will draw it perpendicularly to the moon; but, in order that this phenomenon should take place, we must have passed the neutral line.”

“Exactly,” Barbicane continued. “Once it passes the point of equal attraction, its heavier base will draw it straight down to the moon. But for this to happen, we must have passed the neutral line.”

“Pass the neutral line,” cried Michel; “then let us do as the sailors do when they cross the equator.”

“Cross the neutral line,” cried Michel. “Then let's do what sailors do when they cross the equator.”

A slight side movement brought Michel back toward the padded side; thence he took a bottle and glasses, placed them “in space” before his companions, and, drinking merrily, they saluted the line with a triple hurrah. The influence of these attractions scarcely lasted an hour; the travelers felt themselves insensibly drawn toward the floor, and Barbicane fancied that the conical end of the projectile was varying a little from its normal direction toward the moon. By an inverse motion the base was approaching first; the lunar attraction was prevailing over the terrestrial; the fall toward the moon was beginning, almost imperceptibly as yet, but by degrees the attractive force would become stronger, the fall would be more decided, the projectile, drawn by its base, would turn its cone to the earth, and fall with ever-increasing speed on to the surface of the Selenite continent; their destination would then be attained. Now nothing could prevent the success of their enterprise, and Nicholl and Michel Ardan shared Barbicane’s joy.

A slight sideways movement brought Michel back to the padded wall. From there, he took a bottle and glasses and placed them “in space” before his companions. Drinking merrily, they greeted the line with three cheers. The influence of these attractions lasted less than an hour. The travelers gradually felt themselves being drawn toward the floor. Barbicane thought the projectile’s conical end was shifting slightly away from its usual direction toward the moon. The projectile was turning, bringing its base toward the moon first. The moon’s attraction was overcoming the earth’s, and the fall toward the moon was beginning. For now, the fall was almost imperceptible. But gradually, the attractive force would grow stronger, and the fall would become more pronounced. Drawn along by its base, the projectile would turn its cone toward the earth. It would fall ever faster onto the surface of the Selenite continent, and they would reach their destination. Now nothing could prevent their enterprise from succeeding, and Nicholl and Michel Ardan shared Barbicane’s joy.

Then they chatted of all the phenomena which had astonished them one after the other, particularly the neutralization of the laws of weight. Michel Ardan, always enthusiastic, drew conclusions which were purely fanciful.

Then they talked about all the phenomena that had amazed them one after another, especially the neutralization of gravity. Michel Ardan, enthusiastic as ever, drew conclusions that were purely fanciful.

“Ah, my worthy friends,” he exclaimed, “what progress we should make if on earth we could throw off some of that weight, some of that chain which binds us to her; it would be the prisoner set at liberty; no more fatigue of either arms or legs. Or, if it is true that in order to fly on the earth’s surface, to keep oneself suspended in the air merely by the play of the muscles, there requires a strength a hundred and fifty times greater than that which we possess, a simple act of volition, a caprice, would bear us into space, if attraction did not exist.”

“Ah, my good friends,” he exclaimed, “what progress we could make if we could shed some of our weight on earth. We could loosen some of the chain that binds us to the earth. It would be like setting a prisoner free. Our arms and legs would no longer grow tired. To fly above the earth, keeping ourselves in the air by muscle power alone, may require 150 times our strength. But if that is true, and if gravity did not exist, a simple act of will or a whim would carry us into space.”

“Just so,” said Nicholl, smiling; “if we could succeed in suppressing weight as they suppress pain by anaesthesia, that would change the face of modern society!”

“Exactly,” said Nicholl, smiling. “If we could eliminate weight the way anesthesia eliminates pain, it would transform modern society!”

“Yes,” cried Michel, full of his subject, “destroy weight, and no more burdens!”

“Yes!” cried Michel, caught up in his subject. “Get rid of weight, and there will be no more burdens!”

“Well said,” replied Barbicane; “but if nothing had any weight, nothing would keep in its place, not even your hat on your head, worthy Michel; nor your house, whose stones only adhere by weight; nor a boat, whose stability on the waves is only caused by weight; not even the ocean, whose waves would no longer be equalized by terrestrial attraction; and lastly, not even the atmosphere, whose atoms, being no longer held in their places, would disperse in space!”

“Well said,” replied Barbicane. “But if nothing had any weight, nothing would stay in place, not even your hat, dear Michel. Your house would not stay in place either, because only weight holds its stones together. Nor would a boat, because only weight keeps it stable on the waves. Even the ocean would not stay in place, because Earth’s gravity would no longer keep its waves level. And finally, the atmosphere would not stay in place. Its atoms would no longer be held in place and would scatter into space!”

“That is tiresome,” retorted Michel; “nothing like these matter-of-fact people for bringing one back to the bare reality.”

“That’s annoying,” Michel replied. “There’s nothing like practical people to bring you back to reality.”

“But console yourself, Michel,” continued Barbicane, “for if no orb exists from whence all laws of weight are banished, you are at least going to visit one where it is much less than on the earth.”

“But take comfort, Michel,” Barbicane continued. “Even if no world exists where the laws of weight do not apply, you will at least visit one where weight is much less than on Earth.”

“The moon?”

“Yes, the moon, on whose surface objects weigh six times less than on the earth, a phenomenon easy to prove.”

“Yes, the moon. Objects on its surface weigh six times less than they do on Earth. This is easy to prove.”

“And we shall feel it?” asked Michel.

“And will we feel it?” asked Michel.

“Evidently, as two hundred pounds will only weigh thirty pounds on the surface of the moon.”

“Obviously, because two hundred pounds will weigh only thirty pounds on the moon’s surface.”

“And our muscular strength will not diminish?”

“And our muscles won't get weaker?”

“Not at all; instead of jumping one yard high, you will rise eighteen feet high.”

“Not at all. Instead of jumping three feet high, you will jump eighteen feet high.”

“But we shall be regular Herculeses in the moon!” exclaimed Michel.

“But we’ll be as strong as Hercules on the moon!” exclaimed Michel.

“Yes,” replied Nicholl; “for if the height of the Selenites is in proportion to the density of their globe, they will be scarcely a foot high.”

“Yes,” replied Nicholl. “If the Selenites’ height is proportional to the density of their globe, they will be barely a foot tall.”

“Lilliputians!” ejaculated Michel; “I shall play the part of Gulliver. We are going to realize the fable of the giants. This is the advantage of leaving one’s own planet and over-running the solar world.”

“Lilliputians!” exclaimed Michel. “I’ll play Gulliver. We’re going to live out the fable of the giants. That’s the advantage of leaving your own planet and exploring the solar system.”

“One moment, Michel,” answered Barbicane; “if you wish to play the part of Gulliver, only visit the inferior planets, such as Mercury, Venus, or Mars, whose density is a little less than that of the earth; but do not venture into the great planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune; for there the order will be changed, and you will become Lilliputian.”

“One moment, Michel,” replied Barbicane. “If you want to play Gulliver, visit only the inner planets, such as Mercury, Venus, or Mars. Their density is slightly lower than Earth’s. But don’t venture to the great planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune. There, the situation will be reversed, and you will become Lilliputian.”

“And in the sun?”

“In the sun, if its density is thirteen hundred and twenty-four thousand times greater, and the attraction is twenty-seven times greater than on the surface of our globe, keeping everything in proportion, the inhabitants ought to be at least two hundred feet high.”

“If the sun is 1,324,000 times denser and its gravity is 27 times stronger than at Earth’s surface, its inhabitants should be at least 200 feet tall, if everything is in proportion.”

“By Jove!” exclaimed Michel; “I should be nothing more than a pigmy, a shrimp!”

“My goodness!” exclaimed Michel. “I would be nothing more than a tiny dwarf, a shrimp!”

“Gulliver with the giants,” said Nicholl.

“Just so,” replied Barbicane.

“Exactly,” replied Barbicane.

“And it would not be quite useless to carry some pieces of artillery to defend oneself.”

“And it would not be entirely useless to carry some artillery for defense.”

“Good,” replied Nicholl; “your projectiles would have no effect on the sun; they would fall back upon the earth after some minutes.”

“Good,” replied Nicholl. “Your projectiles would have no effect on the sun. They would fall back to earth after a few minutes.”

“That is a strong remark.”

“That is a strong statement.”

“It is certain,” replied Barbicane; “the attraction is so great on this enormous orb, that an object weighing 70,000 pounds on the earth would weigh but 1,920 pounds on the surface of the sun. If you were to fall upon it you would weigh—let me see—about 5,000 pounds, a weight which you would never be able to raise again.”

“That's certain,” replied Barbicane. “The pull of gravity is so great on this enormous orb that an object weighing 70,000 pounds on Earth would weigh only 1,920 pounds on the sun's surface. If you fell onto the sun, you would weigh, let me see, about 5,000 pounds. You would never be able to lift that weight again.”

“The devil!” said Michel; “one would want a portable crane. However, we will be satisfied with the moon for the present; there at least we shall cut a great figure. We will see about the sun by and by.”

“Damn!” said Michel. “You’d need a portable crane. But we’ll settle for the moon for now. At least we’ll make a big impression there. We’ll think about the sun later.”