The Moon-Voyage. Jules Verne

of 900 feet was impracticable and would not succeed, 2,000 dols.

      3. That it would be impossible to load the Columbiad, and that the pyroxyle would ignite spontaneously under the weight of the projectile, 3,000 dols.

      4. That the Columbiad would burst at the first discharge, 4,000 dols.

      5. That the projectile would not even go six miles, and would fall a few seconds after its discharge, 5,000 dols.

      It will be seen that the captain was risking an important sum in his invincible obstinacy. No less than 15,000 dols. were at stake.

      Notwithstanding the importance of the wager, he received on the 19th of

       October a sealed packet of superb laconism, couched in these terms:—

      "Baltimore, October 18th.

      "Done.

"BARBICANE."