Washington made more soup, and soon had a fine meal ready, over which the travellers discussed their recent experience.
"And when do you think we will arrive?" asked Jack of Mr. Henderson.
"We ought to be at the moon inside of two days now. We have not made quite the speed we calculated on, but that does not matter. I think we will go even more slowly on the remainder of the trip, as I wish to take some scientific observations."
"Yes, and so do I," added Mr. Roumann. "I think if we make fifteen miles a second from now on we will be moving fast enough."
Accordingly the Cardite motor was slowed down, and the projectile shot through space at slightly reduced speed, while the two scientists made several observations, and did some intricate calculating about ether pressure, the distance of heavenly bodies and other matters of interest only to themselves.
It was on the afternoon of the third day following the turning turtle of the Annihilator that Mark, who was looking through a telescope in the pilot-house, called out: "I say, Jack, look here!"
"What's the matter?" asked his chum.
"Why, we're rushing right at the moon! I can see the mountains and craters on it as plain as though we were but five miles away!"
"Then we must be nearly there," observed Jack. "Let's tell the others,
Mark."
They hurried to inform the two professors, who at once left their tables of figures and entered the steering chamber. Then, after gazing through the glass, Mr. Henderson announced: "Friends, we will land on the moon in half an hour. Get ready."