the dominion of the air-第15章
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ing；〃 wrote Mr。 Monck Mason； 〃could exceed the beauty of the manoeuvre； to which the balloon at once responded； regaining her due course； and； in a matter of a few minutes only； bearing the voyagers almost vertically over the castle of Dover in the exact line for crossing the straits between that town and Calais。〃
So far all was well； and success had been extraordinary； but from this moment they became faced with new conditions； and with the grave trouble of uncertainty。 Light was failing； the sea was before them； andwhat else thenceforth？ 4。48 p。m。 was recorded as the moment when the first line of breaking waves was seen directly below them； and then the English coast line began rapidly to fade out from their view。 But； ahead； the obscurity was yet more intense； for clouds； banked up like a solid wall； crowned along its frowning heights； with 〃parapets and turrets and batteries and bastions；〃 and； plunging into this opposing barrier； they were quickly buried in blackness； losing at the same time over the sea all sound from earth soever。 So for a short hour's space； when the sound of waves once again broke in upon them； and immediately afterwards emerging from the dense cloud （a sea…fog merely） they found themselves immediately over the brilliantly lighted town of Calais。 Seeing this； the travellers attempted to signal by igniting and lowering a Bengal Light； which was directly followed by the beating of drums from below。
It adds a touch of reality； as well as cheerfulness； to the narrative to read that at this period of their long journey the travellers apply themselves to a fair； square meal； the first for twelve hours； despite the day's excitement and toil。 We have an entry among the stores of the balloon of wine bottles and spirit flasks； but there is no mention of these being requisitioned at this period。 The demand seems rather to have been for coffeecoffee hot； and this by a novel device was soon prepared。 It goes without saying that a fire or flame of any kind； except with special precautions； is inadmissable in a balloon； but a cooking heat； sufficient for the present purpose； was supplied from the store of lime； a portion of which； being placed in a suitably contrived vessel and slaked quickly； procured the desired beverage。
This meal now indulged in seems to have been heartily and happily enjoyed； and from this point； for a while； the narrative becomes that of enthusiastic and delighted travellers。 In the gloom below； for leagues around； they regarded the scattered fires of a watchful population； with here and there the lights of larger towns； and the contemplation begot romantic reveries。 〃Were they not amid the vast solitudes of the skies； in the dead of night； unknown and unnoticed； secretly and silently reviewing kingdoms； exploring territories； and surveying cities all clothed in the dark mantle of mystery？〃 Presently they identified the blazing city of Liege； with the lurid lights of extensive outlying iron works； and this was the last visible sign they caught of earth that night； save； at least； when occasional glimpses of lightning momentarily and dimly outlined the world in the abyss below。
Ere long； they met with their first discomfort； which they seem to have regarded as a most serious one； namely； the accidental dropping overboard of their cherished coffee…boiling apparatus。 With its loss their store of lime became useless； save as ballast； and for this it was forthwith utilised until nothing remained but the empty lime barrel itself； which； being regarded as an objectionable encumbrance； it was desirable to get rid of； were it not for the risk involved in rudely dropping it to earth。 But the difficulty was met。 They possessed a suitable small parachute； and； attached to this； the barrel was allowed to float earthward。
As hours advanced； the blackness of night increased； and their impressions appear somewhat strange to anyone familiar with ordinary night travel in the sky。 Mr。 Monck Mason compares their progress through the darkness to 〃cleaving their way through an interminable mass of black marble。〃 Then； presently； an unaccountable object puzzles and absorbs the attention of all the party for a long period。 They were gazing open…mouthed at a long narrow avenue of feeble light； which； though apparently belonging to earth； was too long and regular for a river； and too broad for a canal or road； and it was only after many futile imaginings that they discovered they were simply looking at a stay rope of the balloon hanging far out over the side。
Somewhat later still； there was a more serious claim upon the imagination。 It was half…past three in the morning； and the balloon； which； to escape from too low an altitude； had been liberally lightened； had now at high speed mounted to a vast height。 And then； amid the black darkness and dead silence of that appalling region； suddenly overhead came the sound of an explosion； followed by the violent rustling of the silk； while the car jerked violently； as though suddenly detached from its hold。 This was the idea； leading to the belief that the balloon had suddenly exploded； and that they were falling headlong to earth。 Their suspense； however； cannot have been long； and the incident was intelligible enough； being due to the sudden yielding of stiffened net and silk under rapid expansion caused by their speedy and lofty ascent。
The chief incidents of the night were now over； until the dawn arrived and began to reveal a strange land； with large tracts of snow； giving place； as the light strengthened； to vast forests。 To their minds these suggested the plains of Poland； if not the steppes of Russia； and； fearing that the country further forward might prove more inhospitable； they decided to come to earth as speedily as possible。 This； in spite of difficult landing； they effected about the hour that the waking population were moving abroad； and then； and not till then； they learned the land of their haventhe heart of the German forests。 Five hundred miles had been covered in eighteen hours from start to finish！
CHAPTER VII。 CHARLES GREENFURTHER ADVENTURES。
All history is liable to repeat itself； and that of aeronautics forms no exception to the rule。 The second year after the invention of the balloon the famous M。 Blanchard； ascending from Frankfort； landed near Weilburg； and； in commemoration of the event； the flag he bore was deposited among the archives in the ducal palace of that town。 Fifty…one years passed by when； outside the same city； a yet more famous balloon effected its landing； and with due ceremony its flag is presently laid beside that of Blanchard in the same ducal palace。 The balloon of the 〃Immortal Three；〃 whose splendid voyage has just been recounted； will ever be known by the title of the Great Nassau Balloon； but the neighbourhood of its landing was that of the town of Weilburg； in the Duchy of Nassau； whither the party betook themselves； and where； during many days； they were entertained with extravagant hospitality and honour until business recalled Mr。 Hollond home。
Green had now made upwards of two hundred ascents； and； though he lived to make a thousand； it was impossible that he could ever eclipse this last record。 It is true that the same Nassau balloon； under his guidance； made many other most memorable voyages； some of which it will be necessary to dwell on。 But； to preserve a better chronology； we must first； without further digression； approach an event which fills a dark page in our annals； and； in so doing； we have to transfer our attention from the balloon itself to its accessory； the parachute。
Twenty…three years before our present date； that is to say in 1814； Mr。 Cocking delivered his views as to the proper form of the parachute before the Society of Arts； who； as a mark of approval； awarded him a medal。 This parachute； however； having never taken practical shape； and only existing； figuratively speaking； in the clouds； seemed unlikely to find its way there in reality until the success of the Nassau adventure stirred its inventor to strenuous efforts to give it an actual trial。 Thus it came about that he obtained Mr。 Green's co…operation in the attempt he now undertook；
