"Yes; and now to see what it's like," added Mark. "We'll go outside, and——"
"Wait," cautioned Professor Roumann. "First we must see if we can breathe on the moon, and whether the temperature will support life. I must make some tests before we venture out of the projectile."
CHAPTER XIX
TORCHES OF LIFE
The natural inclination of the boys to rush out on the surface of the moon to see what it was like was checked by the words of caution from Professor Roumann.
"Do you think it would be dangerous to venture outside the projectile?" asked Jack, as he looked from the window and noted the rugged, uneven surface of the moon.
"Very much so," was the answer. "According to most astronomers, there is absolutely no air on the moon, also no moisture, and the temperature is either very high or around the freezing point. We must find out what it is."
"How can we?" inquired Mark.
"I'll soon show you," went on the German. "Professor Henderson, will you kindly assist me."
When it had been decided to come to the moon in quest for the field of diamonds, certain changes had been made in the Annihilator to fit it for new conditions that might be met. One of these consisted of an aperture in the two sides of the projectile permitting certain delicate instruments to be thrust out, so that the conditions they indicated could be read on dials or graduated scales from within.