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Chapter 23 — An Abstract of the Six Messages First Received from Mr. Cavor
Hadearthlyastronomershadthecourageandimaginationtopushhomeaboldinduction,saysMr.Wendigee,theymighthaveforetoldalmosteverythingthatCavorhastosayofthegeneralstructureofthemoon.Theyknownowprettycertainlythatmoonandeartharenotsomuchsatelliteandprimaryassmallerandgreatersisters,madeoutofonemass,andconsequentlymadeofthesamematerial.Andsincethedensityofthemoonisonlythree-fifthsthatoftheearth,therecanbenothingforitbutthatsheishollowedoutbyagreatsystemofcaverns.Therewasnonecessity,saidSirJabezFlap,F.R.S.,thatmostentertainingexponentofthefacetioussideofthestars,thatweshouldeverhavegonetothemoontofindoutsucheasyinferences,andpointsthepunwithanallusiontoGruyère,buthecertainlymighthaveannouncedhisknowledgeofthehollownessofthemoonbefore.Andifthemoonishollow,thentheapparentabsenceofairandwateris,ofcourse,quiteeasilyexplained.Thesealieswithinatthebottomofthecaverns,andtheairtravelsthroughthegreatspongeofgalleries,inaccordancewithsimplephysicallaws.Thecavernsofthemoon,onthewhole,areverywindyplaces.Asthesunlightcomesroundthemoontheairintheoutergalleriesonthatsideisheated,itspressureincreases,someflowsoutontheexteriorandmingleswiththeevaporatingairofthecraters(wheretheplantsremoveitscarbonicacid),whilethegreaterportionflowsroundthroughthegalleriestoreplacetheshrinkingairofthecoolingsidethatthesunlighthasleft
