"Then," resumed Barbicane, "a speed of 800 yards is the maximum obtained at present."
"Yes," answered Morgan.
"I might add, however," replied J.T. Maston, "that if my mortar had not been blown up—"
"Yes, but it was blown up," replied Barbicane with a benevolent gesture. "We must take the speed of 800 yards for a starting point. We must keep till another meeting the discussion of the means used to produce this speed; allow me to call your attention to the dimensions which our projectile must have. Of course it must be something very different to one of half a ton weight."
"Why?" asked the major.
"Because," quickly answered J.T. Maston, "it must be large enough to attract the attention of the inhabitants of the moon, supposing there are any."
"Yes," answered Barbicane, "and for another reason still more important."
"What do you mean, Barbicane?" asked the major.
"I mean that it is not enough to send up a projectile and then to think no more about it; we must follow it in its transit."
"What?" said the general, slightly surprised at the proposition.