the works of edgar allan poe-1-第17章
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however； might be ascertained。 Nothing else of an extraordinary
nature occurred during the day。 My apparatus all continued in good
order； and the balloon still ascended without any perceptible
vacillation。 The cold was intense； and obliged me to wrap up closely
in an overcoat。 When darkness came over the earth； I betook myself to
bed； although it was for many hours afterward broad daylight all
around my immediate situation。 The water…clock was punctual in its
duty； and I slept until next morning soundly； with the exception of
the periodical interruption。
〃April 4th。 Arose in good health and spirits； and was astonished at
the singular change which had taken place in the appearance of the
sea。 It had lost； in a great measure； the deep tint of blue it had
hitherto worn； being now of a grayish…white； and of a lustre dazzling
to the eye。 The islands were no longer visible； whether they had
passed down the horizon to the southeast； or whether my increasing
elevation had left them out of sight； it is impossible to say。 I was
inclined； however； to the latter opinion。 The rim of ice to the
northward was growing more and more apparent。 Cold by no means so
intense。 Nothing of importance occurred； and I passed the day in
reading； having taken care to supply myself with books。
〃April 5th。 Beheld the singular phenomenon of the sun rising while
nearly the whole visible surface of the earth continued to be
involved in darkness。 In time； however； the light spread itself over
all； and I again saw the line of ice to the northward。 It was now
very distinct； and appeared of a much darker hue than the waters of
the ocean。 I was evidently approaching it； and with great rapidity。
Fancied I could again distinguish a strip of land to the eastward；
and one also to the westward； but could not be certain。 Weather
moderate。 Nothing of any consequence happened during the day。 Went
early to bed。
〃April 6th。 Was surprised at finding the rim of ice at a very
moderate distance； and an immense field of the same material
stretching away off to the horizon in the north。 It was evident that
if the balloon held its present course； it would soon arrive above
the Frozen Ocean； and I had now little doubt of ultimately seeing the
Pole。 During the whole of the day I continued to near the ice。 Toward
night the limits of my horizon very suddenly and materially
increased； owing undoubtedly to the earth's form being that of an
oblate spheroid； and my arriving above the flattened regions in the
vicinity of the Arctic circle。 When darkness at length overtook me； I
went to bed in great anxiety； fearing to pass over the object of so
much curiosity when I should have no opportunity of observing it。
〃April 7th。 Arose early； and； to my great joy； at length beheld what
there could be no hesitation in supposing the northern Pole itself。
It was there； beyond a doubt； and immediately beneath my feet； but；
alas！ I had now ascended to so vast a distance； that nothing could
with accuracy be discerned。 Indeed； to judge from the progression of
the numbers indicating my various altitudes； respectively； at
different periods； between six A。M。 on the second of April； and
twenty minutes before nine A。M。 of the same day （at which time the
barometer ran down）； it might be fairly inferred that the balloon had
now； at four o'clock in the morning of April the seventh； reached a
height of not less； certainly； than 7；254 miles above the surface of
the sea。 This elevation may appear immense； but the estimate upon
which it is calculated gave a result in all probability far inferior
to the truth。 At all events I undoubtedly beheld the whole of the
earth's major diameter； the entire northern hemisphere lay beneath me
like a chart orthographically projected： and the great circle of the
equator itself formed the boundary line of my horizon。 Your
Excellencies may； however； readily imagine that the confined regions
hitherto unexplored within the limits of the Arctic circle； although
situated directly beneath me； and therefore seen without any
appearance of being foreshortened； were still； in themselves；
comparatively too diminutive； and at too great a distance from the
point of sight； to admit of any very accurate examination。
Nevertheless； what could be seen was of a nature singular and
exciting。 Northwardly from that huge rim before mentioned； and which；
with slight qualification； may be called the limit of human discovery
in these regions； one unbroken； or nearly unbroken； sheet of ice
continues to extend。 In the first few degrees of this its progress；
its surface is very sensibly flattened； farther on depressed into a
plane； and finally； becoming not a little concave； it terminates； at
the Pole itself； in a circular centre； sharply defined； wbose
apparent diameter subtended at the balloon an angle of about
sixty…five seconds； and whose dusky hue； varying in intensity； was；
at all times； darker than any other spot upon the visible hemisphere；
and occasionally deepened into the most absolute and impenetrable
blackness。 Farther than this； little could be ascertained。 By twelve
o'clock the circular centre had materially decreased in
circumference； and by seven P。M。 I lost sight of it entirely； the
balloon passing over the western limb of the ice； and floating away
rapidly in the direction of the equator。
〃April 8th。 Found a sensible diminution in the earth's apparent
diameter； besides a material alteration in its general color and
appearance。 The whole visible area partook in different degrees of a
tint of pale yellow； and in some portions had acquired a brilliancy
even painful to the eye。 My view downward was also considerably
impeded by the dense atmosphere in the vicinity of the surface being
loaded with clouds； between whose masses I could only now and then
obtain a glimpse of the earth itself。 This difficulty of direct
vision had troubled me more or less for the last forty…eight hours；
but my present enormous elevation brought closer together； as it
were； the floating bodies of vapor； and the inconvenience became； of
course； more and more palpable in proportion to my ascent。
Nevertheless； I could easily perceive that the balloon now hovered
above the range of great lakes in the continent of North America； and
was holding a course； due south； which would bring me to the tropics。
This circumstance did not fail to give me the most heartful
satisfaction； and I hailed it as a happy omen of ultimate success。
Indeed； the direction I had hitherto taken； had filled me with
uneasiness； for it was evident that； had I continued it much longer；
there would have been no possibility of my arriving at the moon at
all； whose orbit is inclined to the ecliptic at only the small angle
of 5 degrees 8' 48〃。
〃April 9th。 To…day the earth's diameter was greatly diminished； and
the color of the surface assumed hourly a deeper tint of yellow。 The
balloon kept steadily on her course to the southward； and arrived； at
nine P。M。； over the northern edge of the Mexican Gulf。
〃April 10th。 I was suddenly aroused from slumber； about five o'clock
this morning； by a loud； crackling； and terrific sound； for which I
could in no manner account。 It was of very brief duration； but； while
it lasted resembled nothing in the world of which I had any previous
experience。 It is needless to say that I became excessively alarmed；
having； in the first instance； attributed the noise to the bursting
of the balloon。 I examined all my apparatus； however； with great
attention； and could discover nothing out of order。 Spent a great
part of the day in meditating upon an occurrence so extraordinary；
but could find no means whatever of accounting for it。 Went to bed
dissatisfied； and in a state of great anxiety and agitation。
〃April 11th。 Found a startling diminution in the apparent diameter of
the earth； and a considerable increase； now observable for the first
time； in that of the moon itself； which wanted only a few days of
being full。 It now required long and excessive labor to condense
within the chamber sufficient at
