heart of the earth as it could get, it had insisted, with an almost
knowing perversity, in keeping its old, familiar face next to us. To solve
this problem might take much time, and so we determined to go so well
prepared that, if we once reached the upper surface of the moon, we could
stay as long as our errand demanded.

It was decided to make the ascent from a town near the coast of the
southern part of Chile, and thither we went with our balloon, some
scientific apparatus, and a large quantity of dried provisions. We took
with us also papers from the State Department showing that we were
accredited agents from our Government to the inhabitants of the moon, if
we should find any. Our arrangements were speedily made, and on a still,
bright morning we bade adieu to our friends who had accompanied us thus
far, mounted our car, and set sail.

We left the earth with light hearts, excited with the novel and
interesting character of the enterprise, and but little realizing its
difficulty and danger. Ordinary balloon journeys had become frequent, and
the evolution of the air ship had almost passed beyond the experimental
stage, but nothing like our present undertaking had ever been attempted.

Our starting place was far enough from the resting point of the moon to
enable us to clear the rounded side, but in order to reach the equatorial
line of the fallen globe we would be obliged to ascend over a thousand
miles.

The fact that we were not appalled by the mere thought of rising to such a
height shows how thoroughly we were carried away with the excitement. But
we were better prepared for a lofty flight than might be supposed. For
among the recent wonders of science had been the invention of an air-