登陆注册
4716400000040

第40章

Laussedat, in watching the eclipse of July 18, 1860, probed that the horns of the lunar crescent were rounded and truncated.

Now, this appearance could only have been produced by a deviation of the solar rays in traversing the atmosphere of the moon. There is no other possible explanation of the facts.""But is this established as a fact?"

"Absolutely certain!"

A counter-movement here took place in favor of the hero of the meeting, whose opponent was now reduced to silence. Ardan resumed the conversation; and without exhibiting any exultation at the advantage he had gained, simply said:

"You see, then, my dear sir, we must not pronounce with absolute positiveness against the existence of an atmosphere in the moon.

That atmosphere is, probably, of extreme rarity; nevertheless at the present day science generally admits that it exists.""Not in the mountains, at all events," returned the unknown, unwilling to give in.

"No! but at the bottom of the valleys, and not exceeding a few hundred feet in height.""In any case you will do well to take every precaution, for the air will be terribly rarified.""My good sir, there will always be enough for a solitary individual; besides, once arrived up there, I shall do my best to economize, and not to breathe except on grand occasions!"A tremendous roar of laughter rang in the ears of the mysterious interlocutor, who glared fiercely round upon the assembly.

"Then," continued Ardan, with a careless air, "since we are in accord regarding the presence of a certain atmosphere, we are forced to admit the presence of a certain quantity of water.

This is a happy consequence for me. Moreover, my amiable contradictor, permit me to submit to you one further observation.

We only know _one_ side of the moon's disc; and if there is but little air on the face presented to us, it is possible that there is plenty on the one turned away from us.""And for what reason?"

"Because the moon, under the action of the earth's attraction, has assumed the form of an egg, which we look at from the smaller end. Hence it follows, by Hausen's calculations, that its center of gravity is situated in the other hemisphere.

Hence it results that the great mass of air and water must have been drawn away to the other face of our satellite during the first days of its creation.""Pure fancies!" cried the unknown.

"No! Pure theories! which are based upon the laws of mechanics, and it seems difficult to me to refute them. I appeal then to this meeting, and I put it to them whether life, such as exists upon the earth, is possible on the surface of the moon?"Three hundred thousand auditors at once applauded the proposition.

Ardan's opponent tried to get in another word, but he could not obtain a hearing. Cries and menaces fell upon him like hail.

"Enough! enough!" cried some.

"Drive the intruder off!" shouted others.

"Turn him out!" roared the exasperated crowd.

But he, holding firmly on to the platform, did not budge an inch, and let the storm pass on, which would soon have assumed formidable proportions, if Michel Ardan had not quieted it by a gesture. He was too chivalrous to abandon his opponent in an apparent extremity.

"You wished to say a few more words?" he asked, in a pleasant voice.

"Yes, a thousand; or rather, no, only one! If you persevere in your enterprise, you must be a----""Very rash person! How can you treat me as such? me, who have demanded a cylindro-conical projectile, in order to prevent turning round and round on my way like a squirrel?""But, unhappy man, the dreadful recoil will smash you to pieces at your starting.""My dear contradictor, you have just put your finger upon the true and only difficulty; nevertheless, I have too good an opinion of the industrial genius of the Americans not to believe that they will succeed in overcoming it.""But the heat developed by the rapidity of the projectile in crossing the strata of air?""Oh! the walls are thick, and I shall soon have crossed the atmosphere.""But victuals and water?"

"I have calculated for a twelvemonth's supply, and I shall be only four days on the journey.""But for air to breathe on the road?"

"I shall make it by a chemical process."

同类推荐
  • 人间词话删稿

    人间词话删稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 吏学指南

    吏学指南

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明七子诗选注

    明七子诗选注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 琅嬛记

    琅嬛记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 四肢门

    四肢门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 经验麻科

    经验麻科

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 相爷您的医妻有点毒

    相爷您的医妻有点毒

    一个医女成为一代医圣,和六国权相携手一生的风华之路。**************她是流落在外十六年的丞相嫡女宋晚致,再次回归,却被堵在城门口三天而不得入。——我家夫人说了,什么嫡女,连老子娘都死了千八百年了,还敢上前攀亲戚?就她那没见识的样,便是我们丞相府中最下等的丫头也比她好些。不过她想要进丞相府给我家夫人洗脚,倒是可以求着夫人试试。结果,丞相夫人被扇了一巴掌之后,亲自为她擦拭着轿子说——大小姐,请。回归丞相府,一只玉手挑动掩藏在皇权深处的处处风波,暗地医术生杀在手。一国太子,权贵世子,少年将军,一个个男人凑上前来,心思叵测,只为娶她。结果,她转身嫁了回家途中遇见的一个种田农夫。——这便是我的夫君,请问诸位还有什么想说的?太子:瞎眼了!世子:没见识!将军:走着瞧!然而那位农夫却只一心待她,将她如珠似宝的捧在手里,不理会众人嘲讽,安然自在。直到有一天,一位神秘男子突然到来,对他说:“你算什么人,不过是一个最下贱的农夫而已。你以为你护得了她?你以为你看到的她就是真正的她吗?她早就嫁了人,还为了一个人,灭了一座城,绝非表面那样温雅柔和,而是杀伐果断,狠辣无双,被无数人敬仰的天下凤凰。这样的女子,你配得?”农夫微微一笑:“在下不管她曾经是谁,曾经是谁的妻子,只要她还在我身边,我便让她百岁安康。她灭一座城,我救一座城。她覆一个国,我便还这天下一个太平盛世。她的双手若有鲜血,我给她悉数洗清。”神秘男子:你到底是谁?!当真正的面纱揭开,谁都不知道,这位最平常的男人,竟然是传说中六国权相——苏梦忱!十五岁,他让陈国换皇权。十六岁,他替梁国定江山。十七岁,他使宋国灭赵国。十八岁,他将三国免战争。四年风云,三年蛰伏,再次出现,他携着她手,一同平天下。素手起,她一根银针救黎民百姓于水火。广袖拂,他一指乾坤定天下太平于战乱。且将这一碗红豆慢慢熬成汤,待这一生一世为你相思成疾,许一场地老天荒,共一次相濡以沫,可好?***************男主VS女主1,“公子是农夫?”“……是。”“姑娘是厨娘?”“……是。”——待将天下事了,我为你种田可好?——待将病人医罢,我为你做饭可好?2,——入我相思门,知我相思苦。法门何在?——汝愿进?愿剃一生无忧发,铺就相思门前红尘路;愿卸一身富贵衣,洗尽相思门前菩提树;
  • 五个孩子和沙滩仙子

    五个孩子和沙滩仙子

    五个孩子发现了一个神奇的沙滩仙子,它通过魔力可以实现他们提出的任何愿望。起初,他们许的愿实现后总是让他们感到十分新奇与兴奋,但事情的结果往往出乎他们的意料之外,随着愿望的实现总是会惹来一个又一个令人啼笑皆非的麻烦!
  • 刺猬

    刺猬

    硬派成长小说、新青年文学、新校园题材、青春。从小到大,只要照着老哥所说的做,就准没有错,他是我的爸爸妈妈,我的哥哥姐姐,我的良师益友,我的心灵寄托。我们活得简单,但并不容易,我们人生中的每一步都如履薄冰;我们活得拮据,但并不痛苦,所以老哥对我说,你应当去追求自己的自由,去发挥你人生当中的价值。他说得对,正如他一直都是对的,只是自由并不代表着你不用付出一些代价……本书给我们展现了青春少年心中对外来美好的愿景和想象,积极向上,充满阳光。
  • 王爷,我们不约

    王爷,我们不约

    这年头穿越就穿越吧,为何就穿越到一个男的身上。男的就男的吧,为何这个男的还是太监!太监就太监,为何那个英明神武,英俊潇洒的王爷整天对她太监的身体图谋不轨?咦?太监还是个女儿身?“相公,娘子我帮你坐上皇位,你有什么好处给我的?”她两眼发光,已经想到一堆金山的存在了。“让你日日笙歌,呻吟不断。”某王爷色咪咪的说。慕景景一巴掌拍了过去,“呸!你个色胚!”他家王妃有三好,贪财,刁蛮,易扑倒……她家王爷有三好,持久,耐用,易扑倒……看她21世纪绝世神偷穿越到洛朝是怎样混的风生水起。斗小三,斗太后,斗皇上,斗尽后宫佳丽三千,与王爷成为“基情”四射的古代cp……【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 重生之名门宠妻

    重生之名门宠妻

    她是沈家千金,医学奇才,前世,胞妹与未婚夫勾搭,害她死于非命。重生,回到十年前,她发誓,要活出不一样的人生,让对不起她的人生不如死,想死不能。他是岑家最强大的人,是敌人口中的岑阎王,是少女心中的完美情人,冷血无情的活了好多年,直到遇到她。幸运被她所救,他发誓,今生今世,他的财富,他的地位,包括他的性命都是她的,他要努力让她成为世界上最幸福的女人。想看解恨的,报仇的,男女强双打的,宠得不像话的,请入坑,走过路过不要错过哦。
  • 小痞女穿越深宫2:只做皇后不做妃

    小痞女穿越深宫2:只做皇后不做妃

    注:此女很强大+小痞无边(杀手穿越的,不喜强大的亲慎入)皇帝响尾蛇携钱多多(穿越的)微服出宫,太子冷元屹监国,天上突降凤凰女,说爱就要爱,就赖就要赖!头发短短,武功了得,开放大胆,狠话连连:他是她的目标,躲得了太子,躲不了皇宫,躲得了初一,躲不过十五……抢她男人者死,只做皇后不做妃……(此文是小痞女穿越深宫:与魅君过过招第二部,书中人物,有不解者,可以去看前一部)
  • 小相公追妻记

    小相公追妻记

    他和她,青梅竹马。小时候的他,总是受她保护。情窦初开,他去追大家闺秀,她搞破坏,顺便史无前例的纠缠他。后来,迫于压力,她远嫁南方,他才发现,没有她的生活,陷入了混乱。于是,他认真学习做生意,考虑举家迁往南方。再相遇,他已进化成狼,势必要扑到她这个小白兔!
  • 完美夺爱:娱乐大亨追妻99次

    完美夺爱:娱乐大亨追妻99次

    他的意外出现,让她绯闻缠身,却成为了安氏的救命稻草,纠缠之后,他对她的行为……好像哪里有些不对劲。“我的卡,给你保管。”天,安然顿时傻眼,他的卡拿给她保管。“我的公司,法人是你的名字。”什么,安然再次傻眼,好像天地都在旋转一般,他的公司,法人是她。她要赶紧逃离,却被某人逮住,一脸坏笑,看着她,“我的配偶栏可是你的名字,你舍得丢下你的丈夫让一个人孤独终老吗?”OMG,谁能够告诉她,这到底是怎么回事?(宠文,男女主身心干净)
  • 与伤痕干杯

    与伤痕干杯

    人的一生是一条长长的项链,坠满了各色各式的珍珠。有明这的,有灰暗的,有圆润的,有怪异的,有我们自己抬起的,也人命运赐予的,有乐意接受的,也有无法拒绝的。每一颗都记满了喜怒哀乐,每一颗都有沉重的分量,同样,每一颗都附在生命的路上。