Five minutes to one
The projectile was just right for utilising all the recoil produced by setting fire to the apparatus . Chance was therefore in the travellers ' favour . If the velocity of the projectile were to be absolutely annihilated upon the neutral point , a given motion , however slight , towards the moon would determine its fall . `` Five minutes to one , '' said Nicholl . `` Everything is ready , '' answered Michel Ardan , directing his match towards the flame of the gas . `` Wait ! '' said Barbicane , chronometer in hand .