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           TheRodmanColumbiadthrewashotweighinghalfatonadistanceofsixmiles,withavelocityof800yardspersecond—aresultwhichArmstrongandPalisserhaveneverobtainedinEngland."

           "This,"repliedBarbicane,"is,Ibelieve,themaximumvelocityeverattained?"

           "Itisso,"repliedthegeneral.

           "Ah!"groanedJ.T.Maston,"ifmymortarhadnotburst——"

           "Yes,"quietlyrepliedBarbicane,"butitdidburst.Wemusttake,then,forourstartingpoint,thisvelocityof800yards.Wemustincreaseittwenty-fold.Now,reservingforanotherdiscussionthemeansofproducingthisvelocity,Iwillcallyourattentiontothedimensionswhichitwillbepropertoassigntotheshot.Youunderstandthatwehavenothingtodoherewithprojectilesweighingatmostbuthalfaton."

           "Whynot?"demandedthemajor.

           "Becausetheshot,"quicklyrepliedJ.T.Maston,"mustbebigenoughtoattracttheattentionoftheinhabitantsofthemoon,ifthereareany?"

           "Yes,"repliedBarbicane,"andforanotherreasonmoreimportantstill."

           "Whatmeanyou?"askedthemajor.

           "Imeanthatitisnotenoughtodischargeaprojectile,andthentakenofurthernoticeofit;wemustfollowitthroughoutitscourse,uptothemomentwhenitshallreachitsgoal."

           "What?"shoutedthegeneralandthemajoringreatsurprise.

           "Undoubtedly,"repliedBarbicanecomposedly,"orourexperimentwouldproducenoresult."

           "Butthen,"repliedthemajor,"youwillhavetogivethisprojectileenormousdimensions."