“Yes,” quietly replied Barbicane, “but it did burst. We must take, then, for our starting point, this velocity of 800 yards. We must increase it twenty-fold. Now, reserving for another discussion the means of producing this velocity, I will call your attention to the dimensions which it will be proper to assign to the shot. You understand that we have nothing to do here with projectiles weighing at most but half a ton.” “Why not?” demanded the major. “Because the shot,” quickly replied J. T. Maston, “must be big enough to attract the attention of the inhabitants of the moon, if there are any?” “Yes,” replied Barbicane, “and for another reason more important still.” “What mean you?” asked the major. “I mean that it is not enough to discharge a projectile, and then take no further notice of it; we must follow it throughout its course, up to the moment when it shall reach its goal.” “What?” shouted the general and the major in great surprise. “Undoubtedly,” replied Barbicane composedly, “or our experiment would produce no result.” “But then,” replied the major, “you will have to give this projectile enormous dimensions.” “No! Be so good as to listen. You know that optical instruments have acquired great perfection; with certain instruments we have succeeded in obtaining enlargements of 6,000 times and reducing the moon to within forty miles’ distance. Now, at this distance, any objects sixty feet square would be perfectly visible. “If, then, the penetrative power of telescopes has not been further increased, it is because that power detracts from their light; and the moon, which is but a reflecting mirror, does not give back sufficient light to enable us to perceive objects of lesser magnitude.” “Well, then, what do you propose to do?” asked the general. “Would you give your projectile a diameter of sixty feet?” “Not so.” “Do you intend, then, to increase the luminous power of the moon?” “Exactly so. If I can succeed in diminishing the density of the atmosphere through which the moon’s light has to travel I shall have rendered her light more intense. To effect that object it will be enough to establish a telescope on some elevated mountain. That is what we will do.” “I give it up,” answered the major. “You have such a way of simplifying things. And what enlargement do you expect to obtain in this way?” “One of 48,000 times, which should bring the moon within an apparent distance of five miles; and, in order to be visible, objects need not have a diameter of more than nine feet.” “So, then,” cried J. T. Maston, “our projectile need not be more than nine feet in diameter.” “Let me observe, however,” interrupted Major Elphinstone, “this will involve a weight such as—”