"In the first place, the terrestrial atmosphere absorbs the 4/10 of the solar heat.

In the second, the quantity of solar heat intercepted by the Earth is only about the two billionth part of all that is radiated." "How fortunate to have such a handy thing as an atmosphere around us," cried the Frenchman; "it not only enables us to breathe, but it actually keeps us from sizzling up like griskins." "Yes," said the Captain, "but unfortunately we can't say so much for the Moon." "Oh pshaw!" cried Ardan, always full of confidence.

"It's all right there too! The Moon is either inhabited or she is not.

If she is, the inhabitants must breathe.

If she is not, there must be oxygen enough left for we, us and co., even if we should have to go after it to the bottom of the ravines, where, by its gravity, it must have accumulated! So much the better! we shall not have to climb those thundering mountains!" So saying, he jumped up and began to gaze with considerable interest on the lunar disc, which just then was glittering with dazzling brightness.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed at length; "it must be pretty hot up there!" "I should think so," observed the Captain; "especially when you remember that the day up there lasts 360 hours!" "Yes," observed Barbican, "but remember on the other hand that the nights are just as long, and, as the heat escapes by radiation, the mean temperature cannot be much greater than that of interplanetary space." "A high old place for living in!" cried Ardan.