CHAPTERXVI
THESOUTHERNHEMISPHERE
Theprojectilehadjustescapedaterribledanger，andaveryunforseenone。Whowouldhavethoughtofsuchanencounterwithmeteors？Theseerringbodiesmightcreateseriousperilsforthetravelers。Theyweretothemsomanysandbanksuponthatseaofetherwhich，lessfortunatethansailors，theycouldnotescape。Butdidtheseadventurerscomplainofspace？No，notsincenaturehadgiventhemthesplendidsightofacosmicalmeteorburstingfromexpansion，sincethisinimitablefirework，whichnoRuggiericouldimitate，hadlitupforsomesecondstheinvisiblegloryofthemoon。Inthatflash，continents，seas，andforestshadbecomevisibletothem。Didanatmosphere，then，bringtothisunknownfaceitslife—givingatoms？
Questionsstillinsoluble，andforeverclosedagainsthumancuriousity！
Itwasthenhalf—pastthreeintheafternoon。Theprojectilewasfollowingitscurvilineardirectionroundthemoon。Haditscourseagainbeenalteredbythemeteor？Itwastobefearedso。