human
But, said Barbicane,
gpt
I do not see how it could have been stopped.
human
But let us suppose so,
gpt
It is an impossible supposition, said the practical Barbicane;
human
Admit that it had struck a body in space.
gpt
What body?
human
Why that enormous meteor which we met.
gpt
Then, said Nicholl,
human
More than that, replied Barbicane;
gpt
Burnt? exclaimed Michel,
human
And you would have seen, replied Barbicane.
gpt
It is known now that heat is only a modification of motion. When water is warmed—that is to say, when heat is added to it—its particles are set in motion.
human
Well, said Michel,
gpt
And a true one, my worthy friend; for it explains every phenomenon of caloric. Heat is but the motion of atoms, a simple oscillation of the particles of a body. When they apply the brake to a train, the train comes to a stop; but what becomes of the motion which it had previously possessed? It is transformed into heat, and the brake becomes hot. Why do they grease the axles of the wheels? To prevent their heating, because this heat would be generated by the motion which is thus lost by transformation.
human
Yes, I understand, replied Michel,
gpt
Thus, in case of a shock, it would have been with our projectile as with a ball which falls in a burning state after having struck the metal plate; it is its motion which is turned into heat. Consequently I affirm that, if our projectile had struck the meteor, its speed thus suddenly checked would have raised a heat great enough to turn it into vapour instantaneously.
human
Then, asked Nicholl,
gpt
Her temperature would be raised to such a pitch, said Barbicane,
human
Well, said Michel,
gpt
And if the earth fell upon the sun?
human
According to calculation, replied Barbicane,
gpt
Good additional heat for the sun, replied Michel Ardan,
human
Thus, my friends, said Barbicane,
gpt
Oh, dear! murmured Michel,
human
They have even calculated, continued the imperturbable Barbicane,
gpt
And what is the solar heat?
human
It is equal to that produced by the combustion of a stratum of coal surrounding the sun to a depth of forty-seven miles.
gpt
And that heat—
human
Would be able to boil two billions nine hundred millions of cubic myriameters* of water.
gpt
And it does not roast us!
human
No, replied Barbicane,
gpt
I see that all is for the best, said Michel,
human
Yes! said Nicholl,
gpt
Bah! said Michel, always hopeful.
human
If there are inhabitants, they must breathe. If there are no longer any, they must have left enough oxygen for three people, if only at the bottom of ravines, where its own weight will cause it to accumulate, and we will not climb the mountains; that is all.
gpt
By Jove! said he,
human
Without considering, replied Nicholl,
gpt
And to compensate that, said Barbicane,
human
A pretty country, that! exclaimed Michel.
gpt
Never mind! I wish I was there! Ah! my dear comrades, it will be rather curious to have the earth for our moon, to see it rise on the horizon, to recognize the shape of its continents, and to say to oneself, 'There is America, there is Europe;' then to follow it when it is about to lose itself in the sun's rays! By-the-bye, Barbicane, have the Selenites eclipses?
human
Yes, eclipses of the sun, replied Barbicane,
gpt
And why, asked Nicholl,
human
Yes, if we do not take into consideration the refraction produced by the terrestrial atmosphere. No, if we take that refraction into consideration. Thus δ be the horizontal parallel, and _p_ the apparent semidiameter—
gpt
Oh! said Michel.
human
Do speak plainly, you man of algebra!
gpt
Very well; replied Barbicane,
human
Then, said Michel, in a merry tone,
gpt
Simply because the solar rays are weakened by this refraction, and the atmosphere through which they pass extinguishes the greater part of them!
human
That reason satisfies me, replied Michel.
gpt
Besides we shall see when we get there. Now, tell me, Barbicane, do you believe that the moon is an old comet?
human
There's an idea!
gpt
Yes, replied Michel, with an amiable swagger,
human
I have a few ideas of that sort.
gpt
But that idea does not spring from Michel,
human
Well, then, I am a plagiarist.
gpt
No doubt about it. According to the ancients, the Arcadians pretend that their ancestors inhabited the earth before the moon became her satellite. Starting from this fact, some scientific men have seen in the moon a comet whose orbit will one day bring it so near to the earth that it will be held there by its attraction.
human
Is there any truth in this hypothesis?
gpt
None whatever, said Barbicane,
human
But, continued Nicholl,
gpt
It is possible, friend Nicholl, but not probable.
human
Why not?
gpt
Because—Faith I do not know.
human
Ah! exclaimed Michel,
gpt
Ah! indeed. What time is it?
human
Three o'clock,
gpt
How time goes, said Michel,