the works of edgar allan poe-1-第11章
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could accomplish this manoeuvre； but it was at length accomplished。
To one end of the cravat I then made fast the buckle； and the other
end I tied； for greater security； tightly around my wrist。 Drawing
now my body upwards； with a prodigious exertion of muscular force； I
succeeded； at the very first trial； in throwing the buckle over the
car； and entangling it； as I had anticipated； in the circular rim of
the wicker…work。
〃My body was now inclined towards the side of the car； at an angle of
about forty…five degrees； but it must not be understood that I was
therefore only forty…five degrees below the perpendicular。 So far
from it； I still lay nearly level with the plane of the horizon； for
the change of situation which I had acquired； had forced the bottom
of the car considerably outwards from my position； which was
accordingly one of the most imminent and deadly peril。 It should be
remembered； however； that when I fell in the first instance； from the
car； if I had fallen with my face turned toward the balloon； instead
of turned outwardly from it； as it actually was； or if； in the second
place； the cord by which I was suspended had chanced to hang over the
upper edge； instead of through a crevice near the bottom of the car；
I say it may be readily conceived that； in either of these
supposed cases； I should have been unable to accomplish even as much
as I had now accomplished； and the wonderful adventures of Hans
Pfaall would have been utterly lost to posterity； I had therefore
every reason to be grateful； although； in point of fact； I was still
too stupid to be anything at all； and hung for； perhaps； a quarter of
an hour in that extraordinary manner； without making the slightest
farther exertion whatsoever； and in a singularly tranquil state of
idiotic enjoyment。 But this feeling did not fail to die rapidly away；
and thereunto succeeded horror； and dismay； and a chilling sense of
utter helplessness and ruin。 In fact； the blood so long accumulating
in the vessels of my head and throat； and which had hitherto buoyed
up my spirits with madness and delirium； had now begun to retire
within their proper channels； and the distinctness which was thus
added to my perception of the danger； merely served to deprive me of
the self…possession and courage to encounter it。 But this weakness
was； luckily for me； of no very long duration。 In good time came to
my rescue the spirit of despair； and； with frantic cries and
struggles； I jerked my way bodily upwards； till at length； clutching
with a vise…like grip the long…desired rim； I writhed my person over
it； and fell headlong and shuddering within the car。
〃It was not until some time afterward that I recovered myself
sufficiently to attend to the ordinary cares of the balloon。 I then；
however； examined it with attention； and found it； to my great
relief； uninjured。 My implements were all safe； and； fortunately； I
had lost neither ballast nor provisions。 Indeed； I had so well
secured them in their places； that such an accident was entirely out
of the question。 Looking at my watch； I found it six o'clock。 I was
still rapidly ascending； and my barometer gave a present altitude of
three and three…quarter miles。 Immediately beneath me in the ocean；
lay a small black object； slightly oblong in shape； seemingly about
the size； and in every way bearing a great resemblance to one of
those childish toys called a domino。 Bringing my telescope to bear
upon it； I plainly discerned it to be a British ninety four…gun ship；
close…hauled； and pitching heavily in the sea with her head to the
W。S。W。 Besides this ship； I saw nothing but the ocean and the sky；
and the sun； which had long arisen。
〃It is now high time that I should explain to your Excellencies the
object of my perilous voyage。 Your Excellencies will bear in mind
that distressed circumstances in Rotterdam had at length driven me to
the resolution of committing suicide。 It was not； however； that to
life itself I had any； positive disgust； but that I was harassed
beyond endurance by the adventitious miseries attending my situation。
In this state of mind； wishing to live； yet wearied with life； the
treatise at the stall of the bookseller opened a resource to my
imagination。 I then finally made up my mind。 I determined to depart；
yet live to leave the world； yet continue to exist in short； to
drop enigmas； I resolved； let what would ensue； to force a passage；
if I could； to the moon。 Now； lest I should be supposed more of a
madman than I actually am； I will detail； as well as I am able； the
considerations which led me to believe that an achievement of this
nature； although without doubt difficult； and incontestably full of
danger； was not absolutely； to a bold spirit； beyond the confines of
the possible。
〃The moon's actual distance from the earth was the first thing to be
attended to。 Now； the mean or average interval between the centres of
the two planets is 59。9643 of the earth's equatorial radii； or only
about 237；000 miles。 I say the mean or average interval。 But it must
be borne in mind that the form of the moon's orbit being an ellipse
of eccentricity amounting to no less than 0。05484 of the major
semi…axis of the ellipse itself； and the earth's centre being
situated in its focus； if I could； in any manner； contrive to meet
the moon； as it were； in its perigee； the above mentioned distance
would be materially diminished。 But； to say nothing at present of
this possibility； it was very certain that； at all events； from the
237；000 miles I would have to deduct the radius of the earth； say
4；000； and the radius of the moon； say 1080； in all 5；080； leaving an
actual interval to be traversed； under average circumstances； of
231；920 miles。 Now this； I reflected； was no very extraordinary
distance。 Travelling on land has been repeatedly accomplished at the
rate of thirty miles per hour； and indeed a much greater speed may be
anticipated。 But even at this velocity； it would take me no more than
322 days to reach the surface of the moon。 There were； however； many
particulars inducing me to believe that my average rate of travelling
might possibly very much exceed that of thirty miles per hour； and；
as these considerations did not fail to make a deep impression upon
my mind； I will mention them more fully hereafter。
〃The next point to be regarded was a matter of far greater
importance。 From indications afforded by the barometer； we find that；
in ascensions from the surface of the earth we have； at the height of
1；000 feet； left below us about one…thirtieth of the entire mass of
atmospheric air； that at 10；600 we have ascended through nearly
one…third； and that at 18；000； which is not far from the elevation of
Cotopaxi； we have surmounted one…half the material； or； at all
events； one…half the ponderable； body of air incumbent upon our
globe。 It is also calculated that at an altitude not exceeding the
hundredth part of the earth's diameter that is； not exceeding
eighty miles the rarefaction would be so excessive that animal
life could in no manner be sustained； and； moreover； that the most
delicate means we possess of ascertaining the presence of the
atmosphere would be inadequate to assure us of its existence。 But I
did not fail to perceive that these latter calculations are founded
altogether on our experimental knowledge of the properties of air；
and the mechanical laws regulating its dilation and compression； in
what may be called； comparatively speaking； the immediate vicinity of
the earth itself； and； at the same time； it is taken for granted that
animal life is and must be essentially incapable of modification at
any given unattainable distance from the surface。 Now； all such
reasoning and from such data must； of course； be simply analogical。
The greatest height ever reached by man was that of 25；000 feet；
attained in the aeronautic expedition of Messieurs Gay…Lussac and
Biot。 This is a moderate altitude； even when compared with the eighty
miles in question； and I could not help thinking that the subject
admitted
