Путешествие на Луну
The Question of the Powders
"OurfriendMastonisalwaysathisjokes,eveninseriousmatters,"criedthemajor;"butlethimmakehismindeasy,Iamgoingpresentlytoproposegunpowderenoughtosatisfyhisartillerist’spropensities.IonlykeeptostatisticalfactswhenIsaythat,duringthewar,andfortheverylargestguns,theweightofthepowderwasreduced,astheresultofexperience,toatenthpartoftheweightoftheshot."
"Perfectlycorrect,"saidMorgan;"butbeforedecidingthequantityofpowdernecessarytogivetheimpulse,Ithinkitwouldbeaswell——"
"Weshallhavetoemployalarge-grainedpowder,"continuedthemajor;"itscombustionismorerapidthanthatofthesmall."
"Nodoubtaboutthat,"repliedMorgan;"butitisverydestructive,andendsbyenlargingtheboreofthepieces."
"Granted;butthatwhichisinjurioustoagundestinedtoperformlongserviceisnotsotoourColumbiad.Weshallrunnodangerofanexplosion;anditisnecessarythatourpowdershouldtakefireinstantaneouslyinorderthatitsmechanicaleffectmaybecomplete."
"Wemusthave,"saidMaston,"severaltouch-holes,soastofireitatdifferentpointsatthesametime."
"Certainly,"repliedElphinstone;"butthatwillrendertheworkingofthepiecemoredifficult.Ireturnthentomylarge-grainedpowder,whichremovesthosedifficulties.InhisColumbiadchargesRodmanemployedapowderaslargeaschestnuts,madeofwillowcharcoal,simplydriedincast-ironpans.
