human
They have been gone ten days, said Lieutenant Bronsfield at last.
gpt
What has become of them?
human
They have arrived, lieutenant, exclaimed a young midshipman,
gpt
Oh! I am sure of that, if you tell me so, my young friend,
human
But, continued another officer,
gpt
Yes! it must be so, it is so!
human
I should like to believe it, replied the lieutenant, who was quite unmoved.
gpt
Unfortunately direct news from the lunar world is still wanting.
human
Beg pardon, lieutenant, said the midshipman,
gpt
No letters! continued the young man quickly.
human
The postal administration has something to see to there.
gpt
Might it not be the telegraphic service that is at fault?
human
Not necessarily, replied the midshipman, not at all confused.
gpt
But it is very easy to set up a graphic communication with the earth.
human
And how?
gpt
By means of the telescope at Long's Peak. You know it brings the moon to within four miles of the Rocky Mountains, and that it shows objects on its surface of only nine feet in diameter. Very well; let our industrious friends construct a gigantic alphabet; let them write words three fathoms long, and sentences three miles long, and then they can send us news of themselves?