As he continued his observations from time to time, Dr. Johnston estimated this second moon was about five hundred thousand miles away from the Earth and traveling a lot faster than the one we are on. The sun seems to shine on it about the same time that it is shining upon the Earth. This is the reason we have never been able to see it from the Earth-plane, while at night it seems to be strongly luminous towards the Moon that we know, and not towards the Earth. In other words, as Dr. Johnston explained to us, what the light side of our Moon, as we know it, is to us at the time it is shining, the second moon would be shining on the opposite side, which to us would mean the dark side of our Moon. This is where our Moon on the dark side gets the twilight during their night-time.
Seeing this from here, we become more inquisitive than ever. We would like to try for the second moon, or for one of the planets for they look very close from here. Yet we know they are far. But we are now positively sure that with the markings on other planets better than those of Earth, as we see the Earth from here, and the Moon inhabited as we have already found it to be, all these other planets must be inhabited.
At the same time we realize that we have much of this Moon yet to explore, even though the desire of going to investigate the second moon is strong, or of going on to other planets. We still have a big job to do on the Moon, since that is the purpose for which we came here. Also we know that when we get through doing our work here and after returning back to the Earth, later we can make another trip, since we have made this first one successfully and then venture on for further exploration.
The Earth has now sunk from view and another day is breaking. This is the day we have promised the darkies to visit their village. The six white boys who escorted us from their village back to our ship have remained with us. With their help we believe we will be able to explore the Moon more thoroughly. As the first bright rays of the sun pierce the morning skies, we set out towards the mountains, led by our native friends. Just as we get started we are joined by a group of the dark ones who have come to meet us. Instead of going up the mountain as we had previously done on our first day here, we were taken along a regular path that ran along the foot of the mountain and gradually ascended it in circular fashion towards the village, halfway up. Hiking early in the morning as we are is most enjoyable. Later it will be hot and quite uncomfortable.
Before leaving for this trip we had radared to the Earth and given them some knowledge of our findings.
Their message of congratulations also contained a note of incredulity since our findings were so different than had been expected.
Although all our radar messages had been in code, Johnny had faithfully kept the people on Earth informed as to what we are doing and concerning our findings.
After two hours of walking along the side of the mountain, we reach the village of the darkies. Here too all the tribespeople welcome us and have a feast prepared in our honor. This feast consisted of dried vegetation and also dried meat which seemed to be that of some kind of a fowl whose name we have not learned.
The six white scouts acting as interpreters make it easier for us, for they understand our signs well. These boys are certainly quick in learning, for just three days with us and they are beginning to use some of our words correctly.
The village of the darkies is a cliff type village, as it had appeared to us from the air. The reason for this is because of the heat through the day. They have running water in their dwellings, and quite natural at that, for each time they cut out a cave in the mountain of rock for a dwelling, they seemed to have encountered water which they used. In some cases there is much, in other cases less, but they all have water. We notice the difference of air within the dwellings and outside. Within the dwellings the air is cool and easy to breathe. Outside it is hot and stifling.