human
Ah, indeed! said he;
gpt
What do you mean by that, Nicholl?
human
To ask for means to leave a country, added Michel,
gpt
I do not say that, wishing to draw back, replied Nicholl;
human
I know nothing about it,
gpt
And I, said Michel,
human
I COULD HAVE VENTURED OUT ON THE TOP OF THE PROJECTILE.
gpt
There's an answer!
human
I quite approve of Michel's words, said Barbicane;
gpt
That is a step certainly. A ball without a gun!
human
The gun, replied Barbicane,
gpt
Enough, said Michel with animation.
human
Let it be no longer a question of returning: we have already entertained it too long. As to communicating with our former earthly colleagues, that will not be difficult.
gpt
And how?
human
By means of meteors launched by lunar volcanos.
gpt
Well thought of, Michel, said Barbicane in a convinced tone of voice.
human
Laplace has calculated that a force five times greater than that of our gun would suffice to send a meteor from the moon to the earth, and there is not one volcano which has not a greater power of propulsion than that.
gpt
Hurrah! exclaimed Michel;
human
What do you think of?
gpt
A capital idea. Why did we not fasten a thread to our projectile, and we could have exchanged telegrams with the earth?
human
The deuce! answered Nicholl.
gpt
Do you consider the weight of a thread 250,000 miles long nothing?
human
As nothing. They could have trebled the Columbiad's charge; they could have quadrupled or quintupled it!
gpt
There is but one little objection to make to your proposition, replied Barbicane,
human
By the thirty-nine stars of the Union! said Michel,
gpt
I have nothing but impracticable ideas to-day; ideas worthy of J. T. Maston. But I have a notion that, if we do not return to earth, J. T. Maston will be able to come to us.
human
Yes, he'll come, replied Barbicane;
gpt
Yes, continued Michel,