When the echoes of the applause had rolled away, the strident voice of the Canadian was heard,— “Seven minutes out of the ten have gone, and we have not yet reached the Pole!” “We will be there in three minutes,” placidly remarked Barbicane. He continued,— “But if it is a continent, and the continent is elevated as we have reason to believe, it is obstructed by eternal ice, covered with icebergs and ice-fields, and under such circumstances its development would be difficult—” “Impossible!” said Harald. “Impossible, I am aware,” said Barbicane. “And it is to conquer this impossibility that our efforts are directed. We have no need of ships or sledges to reach the Pole, but thanks to our arrangements the fusion of the ice, ancient or modern, will take place like enchantment!” He paused. There was absolute silence. “Gentlemen,” he continued, “Archimedes demanded but a fulcrum to lift the world! Well, we have found a fulcrum! A lever was what the great Syracusan geometer required, and a lever we possess! We are in a position to displace the Pole—” “Displace the Pole!” exclaimed Baldenak. “Bring it to Baltimore!” said Professor Harald. Evidently Barbicane did not wish to be more precise, for he continued,— “As to this fulcrum—” “Don’t tell! Don’t tell!” shouted one of the audience excitedly. “As to this lever—” “Keep it secret! Keep it secret!” shouted the spectators. “We will keep it secret!” said Barbicane. Baldenak and Co. protested in vain. The orator continued,— “As to the results of this mechanical operation—an operation unprecedented in industrial annals—which we have undertaken and will bring to a successful issue thanks to your capital, I will say a few words.” “Listen! listen!” shouted the crowd. “The first idea of our enterprise occurred to one of the most learned, devoted, and illustrious of our colleagues. To him also belongs the glory of having made the calculations which rendered the theory practicable, for if the development of the Polar mines is child’s play, the displacement of the Pole is a problem which higher mechanics can alone deal with. That is why we addressed ourselves to our worthy secretary, J. T. Maston!” “Hurrah! Hip ! hip ! hip! hurrah! for J. T. Maston!” shouted the whole assembly, electrified by the presence among them of that extraordinary man. Ah! How much was Mrs. Scorbitt moved at the acclamations which resounded round the celebrated calculator! He, with great modesty, bowed his head to the right; then to the left, and then saluted in front with his metal hook. “Already,” said Barbicane, “when the great meeting which celebrated the arrival in America of the Frenchman Michel Ardan, a few months before our departure for the Moon—” The American spoke as coolly of the voyage to the Moon as of a railway journey to New York.