Barbican, however, with the help of the others, soon had it all taken apart, and put away the pieces carefully, to serve again in case of need.

A round hole about a foot and a half in diameter appeared, bored through the floor of the Projectile.
It was closed by a circular pane of plate-glass, which was about six inches thick, fastened by a ring of copper.

Below, on the outside, the glass was protected by an aluminium plate, kept in its place by strong bolts and nuts.

The latter being unscrewed, the bolts slipped out by their own weight, the shutter fell, and a new communication was established between the interior and the exterior.
Ardan knelt down, applied his eye to the light, and tried to look out.
At first everything was quite dark and gloomy.
"I see no Earth!" he exclaimed at last.
"Don't you see a fine ribbon of light ?" asked Barbican, "right beneath us?
A thin, pale, silvery crescent ?" "Of course I do.

Can that be the Earth ?" "_Terra Mater_ herself, friend Ardan.