Even Indians would have surprised him by an exhibition of such stoicism.
After indulging in silent wonder for a minute or two, he joined his companions who were now busy looking out at the starry sky.
"Where is the Moon ?" he asked.

"How is it that we cannot see her ?" "The fact of our not seeing her," answered Barbican, "gives me very great satisfaction in one respect; it shows that our Projectile was shot so rapidly out of the Columbiad that it had not time to be impressed with the slightest revolving motion--for us a most fortunate matter.

As for the rest--see, there is _Cassiopeia_, a little to the left is _Andromeda_, further down is the great square of _Pegasus_, and to the southwest _Fomalhaut_ can be easily seen swallowing the _Cascade_.

All this shows we are looking west and consequently cannot see the Moon, which is approaching the zenith from the east.

Open the other light--But hold on! Look here! What can this be ?" The three travellers, looking westwardly in the direction of _Alpherat_, saw a brilliant object rapidly approaching them.