expedition on our return and bring up a large party. We could manage to
land somewhere in this vicinity, I think, instead of going up as far as
you and I did. What a place this would be for summer vacations! The moon
is a fixture now; it cannot get away. I am sure of that, for the law of
gravitation will never release it. So we may as well make what use of it
we can, and these delightful sensations will no doubt form the most
important discovery that we shall ever make on this dried-up and worn-out
satellite. You know many people are willing to put themselves to much
inconvenience and to undergo many hardships for the sake of a change from
the monotony of home life. If we can induce them to come up here for a few
weeks, and if they can endure this rather erratic climate, they will find
change enough to break up the monotony for one year, I think."

After enjoying this rare exercise to our content, we began preparing for
the night which was now coming on. The doctor had reminded me of my
promise to return to our former position on the moon, and we agreed to set
out the next day. Having fastened our car securely to the ground, so that
we might not drift off toward the earth, we entered it and made ourselves
as comfortable as possible.

Our resting place was near the center of what seemed to be an immense
crater, and some time before morning we were roused by a violent shaking
of the ground beneath us, which startled us beyond expression.

"What's that?" I exclaimed.

"That feels very much like a moon-quake," replied my companion.

I was terribly frightened, but resolved to follow the doctor's example and
make light of what we could not help.