This powder was hard and shining, left no stain on the hands, contained a great proportion of hydrogen and oxygen, deflagrated instantaneously, and, though very brittle, did not much damage the mouthpiece." "Well, it seems to me," answered J.T.Maston, "that we have nothing to hesitate about, and that our choice is made." "Unless you prefer gold-powder," replied the major, laughing, which provoked a threatening gesture from the steel hook of his susceptible friend.
Until then Barbicane had kept himself aloof from the discussion; he listened, and had evidently an idea.

He contented himself with saying simply-- "Now, my friends, what quantity of powder do you propose ?" The three members of the Gun Club looked at one another for the space of a minute.
"Two hundred thousand pounds," said Morgan at last.
"Five hundred thousand," replied the major.
"Eight hundred thousand," exclaimed J.T.

Maston.
This, time Elphinstone dared not tax his colleague with exaggeration.

In fact, the question was that of sending to the moon a projectile weighing 20,000 lbs., and of giving it an initial force of 2000 yards a second.

A moment of silence, therefore, followed the triple proposition made by the three colleagues.
It was at last broken by President Barbicane.
"My brave comrades," said he in a quiet tone, "I start from this principle, that the resistance of our cannon, in the given conditions, is unlimited.