"Yes," said the captain, "now that I do not know where I am going, I want to know _why_ I am going." "Why?" exclaimed Michel, jumping a yard high, "why? To take possession of the moon in the name of the United States; to add a fortieth State to the Union; to colonize the lunar regions; to cultivate them, to people them, to transport thither all the prodigies of art, of science, and industry; to civilize the Selenites, unless they are more civilized than we are; and to constitute them a republic, if they are not already one!" "And if there are no Selenites?" retorted Nicholl, who, under the influence of this unaccountable intoxication, was very contradictory. "Who said that there were no Selenites?" exclaimed Michel in a threatening tone. "I do," howled Nicholl. "Captain," said Michel, "do not repeat that insolence, or I will knock your teeth down your throat!" The two adversaries were going to fall upon each other, and the incoherent discussion threatened to merge into a fight, when Barbicane intervened with one bound. "Stop, miserable men," said he, separating his two companions; "if there are no Selenites, we will do without them." "Yes," exclaimed Michel, who was not particular; "yes, we will do without them. We have only to make Selenites. Down with the Selenites!" "The empire of the moon belongs to us," said Nicholl. "Let us three constitute the republic." "I will be the congress," cried Michel. "And I the senate," retorted Nicholl. "And Barbicane, the president," howled Michel. "Not a president elected by the nation," replied Barbicane. "Very well, a president elected by the congress," cried Michel; "and as I am the congress, you are unanimously elected!" "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! for President Barbicane," exclaimed Nicholl. "Hip! hip! hip!" vociferated Michel Ardan. Then the President and the Senate struck up in a tremendous voice the popular song "Yankee Doodle," whilst from the Congress resounded the masculine tones of the "Marseillaise." Then they struck up a frantic dance, with maniacal gestures, idiotic stampings, and somersaults like those of the boneless clowns in the circus. Diana, joining in the dance, and howling in her turn, jumped to the top of the projectile. An unaccountable flapping of wings was then heard amidst most fantastic cock-crows, while five or six hens fluttered like bats against the walls. Illustration: THEY STRUCK UP A FRANTIC DANCE. Then the three travelling companions, acted upon by some unaccountable influence above that of intoxication, inflamed by the air which had set their respiratory apparatus on fire, fell motionless to the bottom of the projectile. CHAPTER VIII. AT SEVENTY-EIGHT THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN LEAGUES. What had happened? Whence the cause of this singular intoxication, the consequences of which might have been very disastrous? A simple blunder of Michel's, which, fortunately, Nicholl was able to correct in time.