the dominion of the air-第57章
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But the point was that we were not coming down。 We were at that time； 6 a。m。； 4；000 feet high； and it needs no pointing out that at such an altitude it would have been madness to tear open our huge rending valve； thus emptying the balloon of gas。 It may also be unnecessary to point out that in an ordinary afternoon ascent such a valve would be perfectly satisfactory； for under these circumstances the sun presently must go down； the air must grow chill； and the balloon must come earthward； allowing of an easy descent until a safe and suitable opportunity for rending the valve occurred； but now we knew that conditions were reversed； and that the sun was just going to rise。
And then it was we realised that we were caught in a trap。 From that moment it was painfully evident that we were powerless to act； and were at the mercy of circumstances。 By this time the light was strong； and； being well above the tossing billows of mist； we commanded an extended view on every side； which revealed； however； only the upper unbroken surface of the dense cloud canopy that lay over all the British Isles。 We could only make a rough guess as to our probable locality。 We knew that our course at starting lay towards the west； and if we were maintaining that course a travel of scarcely more than sixty miles would carry us out to the open sea。 We had already been aloft for two hours； and as we were at an altitude at which fast upper currents are commonly met with； it was high time that； for safety； we should be coming down； yet it was morally certain that it would be now many hours before our balloon would commence to descend of its own accord by sheer slow leakage of gas； by which time； beyond all reasonable doubt； we must be carried far out over the Atlantic。 All we could do was to listen intently for any sounds that might reach us from earth； and assure us that we were still over the land； and for a length of time such sounds were vouchsafed usthe bark of a dog； the lowing of cattle； the ringing trot of a horse on some hard road far down。
And then； as we were expecting； the sun climbed up into an unsullied sky； and； mounting by leaps and bounds； we watched the cloud floor receding beneath us。 The effect was extremely beautiful。 A description written to the Times the next morning； while the impression was still fresh； and from notes made at this period； ran thus：〃 Away to an infinitely distant horizon stretched rolling billows of snowy whiteness； broken up here and there into seeming icefields； with huge fantastic hummocks。 Elsewhere domes and spires reared themselves above the general surface； or an isolated Matterhorn towered into space。 In some quarters it was impossible to look without the conviction that we actually beheld the outline of lofty cliffs overhanging a none too distant sea。〃 Shortly we began to hear loud reports overhead； resembling small explosions； and we knew what these werethe moist； shrunken netting was giving out under the hot sun and yielding now and again with sudden release to the rapidly expanding gas。 It was； therefore； with grave concern； but with no surprise； that when we next turned to the aneroid we found the index pointing to 9；000 feet； and still moving upwards。
Hour after hour passed by； and； sounds having ceased to reach us； it remains uncertain whether or no we were actually carried out to sea and headed back again by contrary currents； an experience with which aeronauts； including the writer； have been familiar； but； at length； there was borne up to us the distant sound of heavy hammers and of frequent trains； from which we gathered that we were probably over Bristol； and it was then that the thought occurred to my daughter that we might possibly communicate with those below with a view to succour。 This led to our writing the following message many times over on blank telegraph forms and casting them down： 〃Urgent。 Large balloon from Newbury travelling overhead above the clouds。 Cannot descend。 Telegraph to sea coast （coast…guards） to be ready to rescue。Bacon and Spencer。〃
While thus occupied we caught the sound of waves； and the shriek of a ship's siren。 We were crossing a reach of the Severn； and most of our missives probably fell in the sea。 But over the estuary there must have been a cold upper current blowing； which crippled our balloon； for the aneroid presently told of a fall of 2；000 feet。 It was now past noon； and to us the turn of the tide was come。 Very slowly； and with strange fluctuations； the balloon crept down till it reached and became enveloped in the cloud below； and then the end was near。 The actual descent occupied nearly two hours； and affords a curious study in aerostation。 The details of the balloon's dying struggles and of our own rough descent； entailing the fracture of my daughter's arm； are told in another volume。*
We fell near Neath； Glamorganshire； only one and a half miles short of the sea； completing a voyage which is a record in English ballooningten hours from start to finish。
* 〃By Land and Sky；〃 by the Author。
CHAPTER XXVI。 RECENT AERONAUTICAL EVENTS。
The first trial of the Zeppelin air ship was arranged to take place on June 30th； 1900； a day which； from absence of wind； was eminently well suited for the purpose； but the inflation proved too slow a process； and operations were postponed to the morrow。 The morrow； however； was somewhat windy； causing delay； and by the time all was in readiness darkness had set in and the start was once more postponed。 On the evening of the third day the monster craft was skilfully and successfully manoeuvred； and； rising with a very light wind； got fairly away； carrying Count Zeppelin and four other persons in the two cars。 Drifting with the wind； it attained a height of some 800 or 900 feet； at which point the steering apparatus being brought into play it circled round and faced the wind； when it remained stationary。 But not for long。 Shortly it began to descend and； sinking gradually； gracefully； and in perfect safety； in about nine minutes it reached and rested on the water； when it was towed home。
A little later in the month； July； another trial was made； when a wind was blowing estimated at sixteen miles an hour。 As on the previous occasion； the direct influence of the sun was avoided by waiting till evening hours。 It ascended at 8 p。m。； and the engines getting to work it made a slow progress of about two miles an hour against the wind for about 3 1/2 miles； when one of the rudders gave way； and the machine was obliged to descend。
On the evening of October 24th of the same year； in very calm weather and with better hope； another ascent was made。 On this occasion； however； success was frustrated by one of the rear rudders getting foul of the gear； followed by the escape of gas from one of the balloons。
Another and more successful trial took place in the same month； again in calm atmosphere。 Inferior gas was employed； and it would appear that the vessel had not sufficient buoyancy。 It remained aloft for a period of twenty minutes； during which it proved perfectly manageable； making a graceful journey out and home； and returning close to its point of departure。 This magnificent air ship； the result of twenty years of experiment； has since been abandoned and broken up； yet the sacrifice has not been without result。 Over and above the stimulus which Count Zeppelin's great endeavour has given to the aeronautical world； two special triumphs are his。 He has shown balloonists how to make a perfectly gas…tight material； and has raised powerful petroleum motors in a balloon with safety。
In the early part of 1900 it was announced that a member of the Paris Aero Club； who at the time withheld his name （M。 Deutsch） offered a prize of 100；000 francs to the aeronaut who； either in a balloon or flying machine； starting from the grounds of the Aero Club at Longchamps； would make a journey round the Eiffel Tower； returning to the starting place within half an hour。 The donor would withdraw his prize if not won within five years； and in the meanwhile would pay 4；000 francs annually towards the encouragement of worthy experimenters。
It was from this time that flying machines in great
