ys~~: ¦    ...,:
HECTOR SERVADAC.
29
know, and from whom he had to submit to the most
ardent salutations.
" To whom have I the honor of speaking?" Arago
asked him.
" Oh, Mr. Arago, you ought to know me well, for I
attend your course assiduously, and you do not cease
looking at me during the whole time of the lesson!"
Indeed, Captain Servadac's orderly was not unintelli-
gent in his sphere; but he was ignorant, and that
amounted to the same thing.
Now, Ben-Zouf having appeared convinced, the pro-
fessor continued his demonstration in these terms:
" Well, gentlemen, this collection cf forty pieces I
am going to hang to the hook of the steelyard, and, as
I am working on Gallia, we are going to know what it
weighs on Gallia. "
The collection was attached to the hook, the needle
oscillated, stopped, and marked on the graduated
circle one hundred and thirty-three grams.
" Then," continued Palmyrin Rosette, " that which
weighs a kilogram on the Earth only weighs one hun-
dred and thirty-three grams on Gallia—that is about
seven times less.   Is it dear?"
Ben-Zouf having made a sign of assent, the professor
gravely continued his demonstration.
" And now you understand that the results I am go-
ing to obtain with a steelyard would be null with ordin-
ary balances. In fact, the two basins in which I would
put, on one side the collection, on the other the kilo-
gram weight, would rest in equilibrium, because each
would be diminished by a quantity precisely equal. Is
that understood?"
" Even by me," replied Ben-Zouf.
"If then," continued the professor, "theweight is
seven times less here than on the terrestrial globe, we
ought to conclude from that that the intensity of grav-
ity on Gallia is only the seventh of what it is on the
surface of the earth."
"Perfect," replied Captain Servadac; "and now con-
sider us satisfied on that point. Then, dear professor,
let us pass to the mass."
" No; to the density first," replied Palmyrin Bosette.
" In fact," said Lieutenant Procope, " knowing al-
ready the volume of Gallia, when we shall learn the
density of it, the mass will be deduced quite natu-
rally."
The lieutenant's reasoning was true, and there was
nothing more except the calculation of the density of
Gallia.
This is what the professor did. He took the block
cut from the massive rock of the volcano—a block
which measured exactly a cubic decimeter.
" Gentlemen," said he, " this block is made of that
unknown material which, during your voyage of cir-
cumnavigation, you encountered everywhere in the
surface of Gallia. Truly, it seems that my comet is
composed only of this substance. The coast, the
volcanic mountain, the territory to the north, as to
the south, seem constituted only of this mineral, to
which your ignorance of geology did not enable you to
give a name."
" Yes; and we would indeed like to know what this
substance is," said Hector Servadac.
'¦ I believe then," continued Palmyrin Rosette, " I
am right in reasoning as if Gallia was entirely and uni-
formly composed of this material even in its extreme
depths. Now, here is a cubic decimeter of this mate-
rial. What would it weigh on the earth? It would
weigh exactly the weight it has on Gallia multiplied by
seven, because—I repeat it—the attraction is seven
times less on the comet than on the terrestrial globe.
Do you understand, you who are looking at me with
your round eyes?"
This was addressed to Ben-Zouf.
" No," replied Ben-Zouf.
" Well. I will not lose my time in making you under-
s'and. These gentlemen have understood me, and that
is sufficient."
" What a bearl" murmured Ben-Zouf.
" Let us, then, weigh this block," said the professor.
" It is as if I should put the comet on the hook of my
steelyard."
The block was hung on the steelyard, and the needle
indicated on the circle one kilogram, thirteen hundred
and thirty grams.
"One kilogram, thirteen hundred and thirty grams,
multiplied by seven," cried Palmyrin Rosette, "give
nearly ten kilograms. Then, the density of the earth
being about five, the density of Gallia is double that of
. the earth, because it is worth ten I Without this cir-
cumstance the gravity, instead of being one-seventh of
the earth on my comet, would only have been a fif-
teenth 1"
In pronouncing these words the professor thought he
had a right to feel proud.
If the earth excelled in volume, his comet excelled
in density, and, truly, he would not have bartered one
for the other.
Thus, then, at this moment, the diameter, the cir-
cumference, the surface, the volume, the density of
Gallia, and the intensity of gravity on its surface were
known. There remained to be calculated its mass,
otherwise its weight.
This calculation was rapidly made. In fact, because
a decimeter cube of Gallian material would weigh ten
kilograms in terrestrial weighing. Gallia weighed as
many times ten kilograms as its volume contained
cubic decimeters. Now, this volume, as they knew,
being two hundred and eleven millions, four hundred
and thirty-three thousand, four hundred and sixty
cubic kilometers, contained a number of decimeters
represented by twenty-one figures, say two hundred
and eleven quintillions, four hundred and thirty-three
quadrillions, four hundred and sixty trillions. This
same number gave then, in terrestrial kilograms, the
mass and the weight of Gallia.
It was, then, inferior to that of the terrestrial globe
by four quintillions, seven hundred and eighty-eight
quadrillions, five hundred and sixty-six trillions, five
hundred and forty billions of kilograms.
"But what then does the earth weigh?" asked Ben-
Zouf, truly stunned by these thousand millions of
millions.
" First, do you know what a thousand millions is?"
Captain Servadac asked him.
Vaguely, my captain."
"Well, know then, that  since the  birth of Jesus
Christ, there have not yet elapsed a thousand millions
of minutes, and that, if you owed a thousand millions,
by giving a franc every minute since that epoch, you
would not yet have finished paying."
"Afrancaminutel" cried Éen-Zouf; "butl should
cried Ben-Zouf; "within a few
be ruined before a quarter of an hour.    Well, then,
what does the earth weigh?"
" Five thousand eight hundred and seventy-five sextil
lions of kilograms,'' said the lieutenant, "a number
formed by twenty-five figures 1"
"And the moon?"
" Seventy-two sextillions of kilograms."
,| Only ?'f replied Ben-Zouf; " and the sun?"
Twononillions," replied the professor: "a number
which comprises thirty-one figures. "'
"Two nonillions!"   "rf^A tiar,.?^
grams, no doubt!"
Palmyrin Rosette began to look crookedly at Ben-
Zouf.
"Thus, then,"said Captain Servadac, in conclusion,
all objects weigh seven times less on the surface of
Gallia than on the surface of the earth."
"Yes," replied the professor: "and in consequence
our muscular powers are increased six fold. A market-
porter, who carries a hundred kilograms on the
earth, would carry seven hundred on Gallia."
"That is the reason why we jump seven times
higher," said Ben-Zouf.
'No doubt," replied Lieutenant Procope; "and if
the mass of Gallia had been less, Ben-Zouf, you would
have jumped still higher."
"Perhaps, even, over the hill of Monmartre," added
the professor, winking at Ben-Zouf in a manner to put
him almost out of his wits.
"And on the other stars," asked Hector Servadac,
" what is then the intensity of gravity?"
" You have forgotten," cried the professor. "Indeed
you never were anything but a very poor scholar."
" I admit it to my shamel" replied Hector Serradac.
"Well, the earth being one, the attraction on the
moon is from zero sixteen; on Jupiter, two forty-five;
on Mars, zero fifty; on Mercury, one fifteen; on Venus,
zero ninety-two, almost equal to that of the earth on
the sun, two forty-five. There, a kilogram on the earth
weighs twenty-eight!"
"Thus," added Lieutenant Procope, "on the sun, a
man constituted as we are, would raise himself with
difficulty if he should fall, and a cannon ball would not
go more than a few half scores of meters. "
" A good battlefield for cowards!" said Ben-Zouf.
"But, no," retorted Captain Servadac, "because
they would be too heavy to save themselves I"
"Well," said Ben-Zouf, "because we would be
stronger, because we could jump higher. I regret that
Gallia is not smaller than it is 1 It is true that would be
difficult!"
This proposition could not but wound Palmyrin
Rosette's self-love, as proprietor of the said Gallia.
Thus, admonishing Ben-Zouf:
"Do you see that ?" cried he. " Is not the head of this
ignoramus light enough already! Let him take care,
or a gust of wind will carry it off some day I"
" Good I" replied Ben-Zouf, " I shall hold it with two
hands!"
Palmyrin Rosette, seeing that he could not have the
last word with the headstrong Ben-Zouf, was going to
retire, when Captain Servadac stopped him with a
gesture.
" Dear professor, pardon a 'single question. Do you
not know of what substance Gallia is made?"
"Maybe so!" replied Palmyrin Rosette. "Thena-
ture of this material—its density which is ten—I dare
to affirm—Ah ! if that is so, I have what will confound
this Ben-Zouf. Then let him dare to compare his hill
with my cometl"
" And what would you dare to affirm?" demanded
Captain Servadac.
''That this substance," continued the professor,
scanning each syllable of his phrase, "that this sub-
stance is nothing less than a tellurure."
"Phew! a tellurure"—cried Ben-Zouf. "Atellurure
of gold, a composite substance which is frequently
found on earth, and in this, if there is seventy per cent,
of tellure, I estimate that there is thirty per cent, of
gold !"
" Thirty per cent!" cried Hector Servadac.
" Which, adding the specific gravities of these two
bodies, makes a total of ten—say, precisely the figure
which represents the density of Gallia."
" A comet in goldl" repeated Captain Servadac.
" The celebrated Maupertins thought that was quite
possible, and Gallia proves him right."
" But, then," said Count Timascheff, "if Gallia falls
on the terrestrial globe, it is going to change all the
monetary conditions, because there are actually only
twenty-nine billions, four hundred millions of gold in
circulation."
"In fact," replied Palmyrin Rosette, "because this
block of tellurure of gold which carries us weighs, in
terrestrial weighing, two hundred and eleven quin-
tillions, four hundred and thirty-three quadrillions,
four hundred and sixty trillions of kilograms it will
bring to the Earth about seventy-one quintillions of
gold. Now, at three thousand five hundred francs per
kilogram that makes, in round numbers, two hundred
and forty-six sextillions of francs—a number composed
of twenty-four figures."
"And on that," replied Hector Servadac, "the value
of gold will fall to nothing, and it will merit more than
ever the qualification of ' base metal. "
The professor had not heard this observation. On his
last reply, he had gone out majestically to ascend to
his observatory.
" But," Ben^ouf then demanded, " what good are
all these calculations which this crusty old savant has
just made like sleight-of-hand tricks?"
"For nothing!" replied Captain Servadac; "and it
is precisely in that that lies the charm."
CHAPTER   IX.
IN WHICH THE ONLY SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION WILL BE
JUPITER, SURNAMED THE GREAT DISTURBER OF
COMETS.
In faot Palmyrin Rosette had only studied science
for the sake of science. He knew the ephemerides of
the comet, its course through interplanetary space,
the length of its revolution around the sun. The rest,
mass, density, attraction, and even the metallic value
of Gallia, could only interest him and not his compan-
ions, desirous above all to find the earth at the point of
its orbit and at the date indicated.
They then left the professor to his labors in pure
science.
The next day was the first of August, or, to borrow
Palmyrin Rosette's language, tbe sixty-third of the
Gallian April. During this month, the comet, which
was going to travel sixteen million flye hundred thou-
sand leagues, ought to recede one hundred and ninety-
seven millions of leagues from the sun. It must still
traverse eighty-one million leagues on its trajectory,
to attain its aphelion point, on the 15th of January
Departing from this point, it would tend to approach
the sun. But then, Gallia was advancing toward a
marvelous world, which no human eye had yet been
able to contemplate so near!
Yes, the professor was right in no longer leaving his
observatory. Never had astronomer—and an astron-
omer is more than a man, because he lives beyond the
terrestrial world—found himself with such a feast for
his eyes. How lovely were these Gallian nights ! Not
a breath of air; not a vapor disturbed their serenity.
The book of the firmament was there, all open, and
might be read with an incomparatle clearness.
This splendid world which Gallia was approaching
was the world of Jupiter, the most important of those
which the sun holds under its attractive power. Since
the collision of the earth and the comet seven months
had elapsed, and the latter had journeyed rapidly to-
ward the superb planet which was advancing before it.
At this date of the 1st of August, the two stars were
only separated by sixty-one millions of leagues, and
till the 1st of November they would gradually approach ¦
each other. Was there not danger in this? In revolv-
ing so near Jupiter was not Gallia playing a desperate
game? The attractive power of the planet, whose
mass was so considerable in comparrson with it,
might it not exert a disastrorrs influence over it? Cer-
tainly, in calculating the duration of Gallia's revolu-
tion, the professor had taken exact account of the per-
turbation which not only Jupiter, but also Saturn and
Mars would cause it. But, if he was mistaken in the
extent of these perturbations, if his comet should ex-
perience more important delays than he expected? If
even this   terrible Jupiter,  this eternal deluder  of
comets-----
Finally, as Lieutenant Procope explained it, if the
astronomer's calculations were erroneous, a quadruple
danger menaced Gallia.
1st. Whether Gallia, irresistibly attracted by Jupiter,
would fall on its surface and be annihilated.
2d. Whether, only captured, it would pass to the
state of a satellite, perhaps even of a secondary satel-
lite.
3d. Whether, drawn from its trajectory, it would fol-
low a new orbit which would not bring it back to the
ecliptic.
4th. Whether, retarded ever so little by the disturb-
ing star, it would arrive on the ecliptic too late to find
the earth again.
It will be remarked that, of these four dangers, one
would be sufficient to cause the Gallians to lose all
chance of returning to their native globe.
It must now be observed that, of these four contin-
gencies, in case they should happen, Palmyrin Rosette
would only fear two of them. That Gallia should pass
to the condition of a moon or sub-moon of the Jovian
world, could not suit this adventurous astronomer; but,
after having missed the meeting with the earth, to con-
tinue to gravitate around the sun, or even to traverse
the starry spaces across that nebula of the milky way
of which all the visible stars seem to form a part, that
would please him very much. It may be conceived that
his companions were irresistibly taken with the desire
to return to the terrestrial globe, where they had left
families and friends; but Palmyrin Rosette had no
longer any family; he had no friends, never having had
the time to make them. With his peculiar character,
how could he have succeeded in doing so? Then, be-
cause he had this exceptional chance of being carried
through space on a new star, he would have given
everything to remain on it forever.
A month passed in this way, between the fears of
the Gallians and the hopes of Palmyrin Rosette. On
the first of September the distance of Gallia, from Ju-
piter was no more than thirty-eight millions of leagues
—precisely that which separates the earth from its at-
tracting center. On the 15th this distance was no more
than twenty-six millions of leagues. The planet grew
larger in the firmament, and Gallia seemed to be at-
tracted toward it, as if its elliptical course might be
changed into a rectilineal descent under the influence
of Jupiter.
It is a considerable planet, in fact, this one which
then threatened to disturb Gallia. A stumbling-block,
truly dangerous! We know, according to Newton, that
the attraction between bodies is in proportion to their
masses, and inversely as to the square of their dis-
tances. Now, the mass of Jupiter was very consider-
able, and the distance at which Gallia would pass it by
would be relatively much reduced.
In fact, the diameter of this giant is thirty-five thou-
sand seven hundred and ninety leagues, say eleven
times the terrestrial diameter, and its circumference
measures one hundred and twelve thousand four hun-
dred and forty leagues. Its volume equals fourteen
hundred and fourteen times that of tho earth—that is
to say, it would take fourteen hundred and fourteen
terrestrial globes to equal its bulk. Its mass is three
hundred and thirty-eight times greater than that of
the terrestrial spheroid; otherwise, say it weighs one
hundred and thirty-eight times more—say nearly two
octillions of kilogrammes—a number composed of
twenty-eight figures. If its average density, deducted
from its mass and its volume, is not equivalent to the
fourth of that of the earth, and only exceeds one-third
the density of water, whence this hypothesis that the
enormous planet is, perhaps, liquid, at least at its sur-
face?   Its mass was not less disturbing for Gallia.
It should be added, to finish the physical description
of Jupiter, that it accomplishes its revolution around
the sun in eleven years, ten months, seventeen days,
eight hours and forty-two terrestrial minutes; that it
moves with a velocity of thirteen kilometers per
second through an orbit of twelve hundred and four-
teen millions of leagues; that its rotation on its axis
occupies only nine hours and fifty-five minutes, which
singularly reduces the length of its days; that, con-
sequently, each of its points at the equator changes its
place twenty-seven times more rapidly than one of the
equatorial points of the earth, which gives to each of
its poles a depression of nine hundred and ninety-five
leagues; that the axis of the planet is almost perpen-
dicular to the plane of its orbit, whence this result:
That the days are equal to the nights, and but slight
variations of the seasons, the sun remaining almost
invariably in the plane of the equator; finally, that the
intensity of the light and heat received by the planet
is only the twenty-fifth of their intensity on the surface
of the earth, for Jupiter follows an elliptieal trajectory
which puts it, at the nearest point, one hundred and