u0001空中历险记AVoyageinaBalloon
儒勒·凡尔纳
JulesVerne
儒勒·凡尔纳（JulesVerne，1828—1905），法国著名科幻小说家、冒险小说家。1863年，他凭总名称为《在已知和未知世界中的奇异漫游》的系列作品集一举成名，这进一步地激发了他的创作热情。他一生中共创作了66部小说，其中《格兰特船长的儿女》《海底两万里》《神秘岛》《环游地球80天》等风靡全球，成为家喻户晓的作品。他以其大量著作和突出贡献，被誉为“现代科学幻想小说之父”。
I
InthemonthofSetember，1850，IarrivedatFrankfort-on-the-Maine.MyassagethroughtherincialcitiesofGermany,hadbeenbrilliantlymarkedbyaerostaticballoon；but,utothisday,noinhabitantoftheConfederationhadaccomaniedme,andthesuccessfulexerimentsatParisofMessrs.Green,Godard,andPoitevin,hadfailedtoinducethegraveGermanstoattemtaerialvoyages.
Meanwhile,hardlyhadthenewsofmyaroachingascensioncirculatedthroughoutFrankfort,thanthreeersonsofnoteaskedthefavourofaccomanyingme.Twodaysafter,weweretoascendfromthePlacedelaComédie.Iimmediatelyoccuiedmyselfwiththerearations.Myballoon,ofgiganticroortions,wasofsilk,coatedwithguttaercha,asubstancenotliabletoinjuryfromacidsorgas,andofabsoluteimermeability.Sometrifingrentsweremended：theinevitableresultsoferilousdescents.
ThedayofourascensionwasthatofthegreatfairofSetember,whichattractsalltheworldtoFrankfort.Theaaratusforfllingwascomosedofsixhogsheadsarrangedaroundalargevat,hermeticallysealed.Thehydrogengas,evolvedbythecontactofwaterwithironandsulhuricacid,assedfromthefrstreservoirstothesecond,andthenceintotheimmenseglobe,whichwasthusgraduallyinflated.Theserearationsoccuiedallthemorning,andabout11oclock,theballoonwasthree-quartersfull；sufficientlyso；foraswerise,theatmoshericlayersdiminishindensity,andthegas,confinedwithintheaerostat,acquiringmoreelasticity,mightotherwiseburstitsenveloe.Mycalculationshadfurnishedmewiththeexactmeasurementofgasrequiredtocarrymycomanionsandmyselftoaconsiderableheight.
Weweretoascendatnoon.Itwastrulyamagnifcentsectacle,thatoftheimatientcrowdwhothrongedaroundthereservedenclosure,inundatedtheentiresquareandadjoiningstreets,andcoveredtheneighbouringhousesfromthebasementstotheslatedroofs.Thehighwindsofastdayshadlulled,andanoveroweringheatwasradiatingfromanuncloudedsky；notabreathanimatedtheatmoshere.Insuchweather,onemightdescendintheverysothehadleft.
Icarriedthreehundredoundsofballast,inbags；thecar,erfectlyround,fourfeetindiameter,andthreefeetinheight,wasconvenientlyattached；thecordwhichsustaineditwassymmetricallyextendedfromtheuerhemishereoftheaerostat；thecomasswasinitslace,thebarometersusendedtotheironhoowhichsurroundedthesuortingcord,atadistanceofeightfeetabovethecar；theanchorcarefullyreared,allwasinreadinessforourdearture.
Amongtheersonswhocrowdedaroundtheenclosure,Iremarkedayoungmanwithalefaceandagitatedfeatures.Iwasstruckwithhisaearance.HehadbeenanassiduoussectatorofmyascensionsinseveralcitiesofGermany.Hisuneasyairandhisextraordinaryre-occuationneverlefthim；heeagerlycontemlatedthecuriousmachine,whichrestedmotionlessatafewfeetfromtheground,andremainedsilent.
Theclockstrucktwelve！Thiswasthehour.Mycomanionshadnotaeared.Isenttothedwellingofeach,andlearnedthatonehadstartedforHamburg,anotherforViennaandthethird,stillmorefearful,forLondon.Theirheartshadfailedthematthemomentofundertakingoneofthoseexcursions,which,sincetheingeniousexerimentsofaeronauts,arederivedofalldanger.Astheymade,asitwereaartoftherogrammeofthefete,theyhadfearedbeingcomelledtofulfiltheiragreements,andhadfledatthemomentofascension.Theircouragehadbeenininverseratiotothesquareoftheirswiftnessinretreat.
Thecrowd,thusartlydisaointed,wereshoutingwithangerandimatience.Ididnothesitatetoascendalone.Tore-establishtheequilibriumbetweenthesecificgravityoftheballoonandtheweighttoberaised,Isubstitutedotherbagsofsandformyexectedcomanionsandenteredthecar.Thetwelvemenwhowereholdingtheaerostatbytwelvecordsfastenedtotheequatorialcircle,letthemslibetweentheirfngers；thecarroseafewfeetabovetheground.Therewasnotabreathofwind,andtheatmoshere,heavyaslead,seemedinsurmountable.
“Allisready！”exclaimedI，“attention！”
Themenarrangedthemselves；alastglanceinformedmethateverythingwasright.
“Attention！”
Therewassomemovementinthecrowdwhichseemedtobeinvadingthereservedenclosure.
“Letgo！”
Theballoonslowlyascended；butIexeriencedashockwhichthrewmetothebottomofthecar.WhenIrose,Ifoundmyselffacetofacewithanunexectedvoyager-thealeyoungman.
“Monsieur,Isaluteyou！”saidhetome.
“Bywhatright?”
“AmIhere?Bytherightofyourinabilitytoturnmeout.”
Iwasconfounded.Hisassurancedisconcertedme；andIhadnothingtosayinrely.Ilookedathim,butheaidnoregardtomyastonishment.Hecontinued：
“Myweightwilldisturbyourequilibrium,Monsieur：willyouermitme?”
Andwithoutwaitingformyassent,helightenedtheballoonbytwobagsofsandwhichheemtiedintotheair.
“Monsieur，”saidI,takingtheonlyossiblecourse，“youarehere,well!youchoosetoremain,well！Buttomealonebelongsthemanagementoftheaerostat.”
“Monsieur，”reliedhe，“yoururbanityisentirelyFrench；itisofthesamecountrywithmyself！Iressinimaginationthehandwhichyourefuseme.Takeyourmeasures-actasitmayseemgoodtoyou；Iwillwaittillyouhaveended.”
“To.”
“Toconversewithyou.”
Thebarometerhadfallentotwenty-sixinches；wehadattainedaheightofaboutsixhundredmetres,andwereoverthecity；whichsatisfedmeofourcomletequiescence,forIcouldnotjudgebyourmotionlessfags.Nothingbetraysthehorizontalvoyageofaballoon；itisthemassofairsurroundingitwhichmoves.Akindofwaveringheatbathedtheobjectsextendedatourfeet,andgavetheiroutlinesanindistinctnesstoberegretted.Theneedleofthecomassindicatedaslighttendencytofoattowardsthesouth.
Ilookedagainatmycomanion.Hewasamanofthirty,simlyclad；theboldoutlinesofhisfeaturesbetokenedindomitableenergy；heaearedverymuscular.Absorbedintheemotionofthissilentsusension,heremainedimmovable,seekingtodistinguishtheobjectswhichassedbeneathhisview.
“Vexatiousmist！”saidhe,attheexirationofafewmoments.
Imadenorely.
“Whatwouldyou?Icouldnotayformyvoyage；Iwasobligedtotakeyoubysurrise.”
“Noonehasaskedyoutodescend！”
“Asimilaroccurrence，”heresumed，“haenedtotheCountsofLaurencinandDamierre,whentheyascendedatLyons,onthe15thofJanuary，1784.Ayoungmerchant,namedFontaine,scaledtherailing,attheriskofusettingtheequiage.Heaccomlishedthevoyage,andnobodywaskilled！”
“Onceontheearth,wewillconverse！”saidI,iquedatthetoneoflightnesswithwhichhesoke.
“Bah!donottalkofreturning！”
“DoyouthinkthenthatIshalldelaymydescent?”
“Descent！”saidhe,withsurrise.“Letusascend！”
AndbeforeIcouldreventhim,twobagsofsandwerethrownout,withoutevenbeingemtied.
“Monsieur！”saidI,angrily.
“Iknowyourskill，”reliedhe,comosedly；“yourbrilliantascensionshavemadesomenoiseintheworld.Exerienceisthesisterofractice,butitisalsofirstcousintotheory,andIhavelonganddeelystudiedtheaerostaticart.Ithasaffectedmybrain，”addedhe,sadly,fallingintoamutetoror.
Theballoon,afterhavingrisen,remainedstationary；theunknownconsultedthebarometer,andsaid：
“Hereweareat800metres！Menresembleinsects！See,Ithinkitisfromthisheightthatweshouldalwayslookatthem,tojudgecorrectlyoftheirmoralroortions！ThePlacedelaComédieistransformedtoanimmenseant-hill.Lookatthecrowdileduonthequays.TheZeildiminishes.WeareabovethechurchofDom.TheMaineisnowonlyawhitelinedividingthecity,andthisbridge,theMaine-Brucke,lookslikeawhitethreadthrownbetweenthetwobanksoftheriver.”
Theatmosheregrewcooler.
“ThereisnothingIwillnotdoforyou,myhost，”saidmycomanion.“Ifyouarecold,Iwilltakeoffmyclothesandlendthemtoyou.”
“Thanks！”
“Necessitymakeslaws.Givemeyourhand,Iamyourcountryman.Youshallbeinstructedbymycomany,andmyconversationshallcomensateyoufortheannoyanceIhavecausedyou.”
Iseatedmyself,withoutrelying,attheoositeextremityofthecar.Theyoungmanhaddrawnfromhisgreatcoatavoluminousortfolio；itwasaworkonaerostation.
“Iossess，”saidhe，“amostcuriouscollectionofengraving,andcaricaturesaertainingtoouraerialmania.Thisreciousdiscoveryhasbeenatonceadmiredandridiculed.FortunatelywehaveassedtheeriodwhentheMongolferssoughttomakefactitiouscloudswiththevaourofwater；andofthegasaffectingelectricroerties,whichtheyroducedbythecombustionofclamstrawwithchoedwool.”
“Wouldyoudetractfromthemeritoftheseinventions?”reliedI.“Wasitnotwelldonetohaverovedbyexerimenttheossibilityofrisingintheair?”
“Whodeniesthegloryofthefirstaerialnavigators?Immensecouragewasnecessarytoascendbymeansofthosefragileenveloeswhichcontainedonlywarmair.Besides,hasnotaerostaticsciencemadegreatrogresssincetheascensionsofBlanchard?Look,Monsieur.”
Hetookfromhiscollectionanengraving.
“HereisthefirstaerialvoyageundertakenbyPilatredesRosiersandtheMarquisdArlandes,fourmonthsafterthediscoveryofballoons.LouisXVIrefusedhisconsenttothisvoyage；twocondemnedcriminalsweretohavefirstattemtedaerialtravelling.PilatredesRosierswasindignantatthisinjusticeand,bymeansofartifice,succeededinsettingout.Thiscar,whichrendersthemanagementoftheballooneasy,hadnotthenbeeninvented；acirculargallerysurroundedthelowerartoftheaerostat.Thetwoaeronautsstationedthemselvesattheextremitiesofthisgallery.Thedamstrawwithwhichitwasflledencumberedtheirmovements.Achafng-dishwassusendedbeneaththeorifceoftheballoon；whenthevoyagerswishedtoascend,theythrew,withalongfork,strawuonthisbrazier,attheriskofburningthemachine,andtheair,growingwarmer,gavetotheballoonanewascensionalforce.”
“Thetwoboldnavigatorsascended,onthe21stofNovember，1783，fromthegardensofLaMuette,whichtheDauhinhadlacedattheirdisosal.Theaerostatrosemajestically,assedtheIsledesCygnes,crossedtheSeineattheBarrieredelaConference,and,directingitswaybetweenthedomeoftheInvalidesandL‘EcoleMilitaire,aroachedSt.Sulice；thentheaeronautsincreasedthefre,ascended,clearedtheBoulevard,anddescendedbeyondtheBarriered’Enfer.Asittouchedtheground,thecollased,andburiedPilatredesRosiersbeneathitsfolds.”
“Unfortunateresage！”saidI,interestedinthesedetails,whichsonearlyconcernedme.
“Presageofhiscatastrohe，”reliedtheunknown,withsadness.“Youhaveexeriencednothingsimilar?”
“Nothing！”
“Bah！Misfortunesoftenarrivewithoutresage.”Andheremainedsilent.
Wewereadvancingtowardsthesouth；themagneticneedleointedinthedirectionofFrankfort,whichwasflyingbeneathourfeet.
“Perhasweshallhaveastorm.”saidtheyoungman.
“Wewilldescendfrst.”
“Indeed!itwillbebettertoascend；weshallescaemoresurely.”andtwobagsofsandwerethrownoverboard.
Theballoonroseraidly,andstoedattwelvehundredmetres.Thecoldwasnowintense,andtherewasaslightbuzzinginmyears.Nevertheless,theraysofthesunfellhotlyontheglobe,and,dilatingthegasitcontained,gaveitagreaterascensionalforce.Iwasstuid.
“Fearnothing，”saidtheyoungmantome.“Wehavethreethousandfvehundredtoisesofresirableair.Youneednottroubleyourselfaboutmyroceedings.”
Iwouldhaverisen,butavigoroushanddetainedmeonmyseat.
“Yourname?”askedI.
“Myname!howdoesitconcernyou?”
“Ihavethehonourtoaskyourname.”
“IamcalledErostratusorEmedocles,asyoulease.Areyouinterestedintherogressofaerostaticscience?”
Hesokewithicycoldness,andIaskedmyselfwithwhomIhadtodo.
“Monsieur，”continuedhe，“nothingnewhasbeeninventedsincethedaysofthehilosoherCharles.Fourmonthsafterthediscoveryofaerostats,hehadinventedthevalve,whichermitsthegastoescaewhentheballoonistoofull,orwhenonewishestodescend；thecar,whichallowsthemachinetobeeasilymanaged；thenetwork,whichenclosesthefabricoftheballoon,andreventsitsbeingtooheavilyressed；theballast,whichisusedinascendingandchoosingthesotofdescent；thecoatofcaoutchouc,whichrendersthesilkimermeable；thebarometer,whichdeterminestheheightattained；and,fnally,thehydrogen,which,fourteentimeslighterthanair,allowsofascensiontothemostdistantatmoshericlayers,andreventsexosuretoaerialcombustion.Onthe1stofDecember，1783，threehundredthousandsectatorsthrongedtheTuileries.Charlesascended,andthesoldiersresentedarms.Hetravellednineleaguesintheair：managinghismachinewithaskillneversincesurassedinaeronauticexeriments.TheKingconferredonhimaensionoftwothousandlivres,forinthosedaysinventionswereencouraged.Foreveryonewasinterestedintherogressofscience.”
Theunknownwasseizedwithaviolentagitation.
“I,Monsieur,havestudied；Iamsatisfedthatthefrstaeronautsguidedtheirballoons.NottoseakofBlanchard,whoseassertionsmightbedoubted,atDijon,Guyton-Morveaux,bytheaidofoarsandahelm,imartedtohismachinesercetiblemotions,adecideddirection.Morerecently,atParis,awatchmaker,M.Julien,hasmadeattheHiodromeconvincingexeriments；for,withtheaidofaarticularmechanism,anaerialaaratusofoblongformwasmanifestlyroelledagainstthewind.M.Petinlacedfourballoons,flledwithhydrogen,injuxtaosition,and,bymeansofsailsdisosedhorizontallyandartiallyfurled,hoedtoobtainadisturbanceoftheequilibrium,which,incliningtheaaratus,shouldcomelittoanobliqueath.Butthemotiveowerdestinedtosurmounttheresistanceofcurrents，-thehélice,movinginamovablemedium,wasunsuccessful.Ihavediscoveredtheonlymethodofguidingballoons,andnotanAcademyhascometomyassistance,notacityhasflledmysubscritionlists,notagovernmenthasdeignedtolistentome！Itisinfamous！”
Hisgesticulationsweresofuriousthatthecarexeriencedviolentoscillations；Ihadmuchdiffcultyinrestraininghim.Meanwhile,theballoonhadencounteredamoreraidcurrent.Wewereadvancinginasoutherlydirection,at1200metresinheight,almostaccustomedtothisnewtemerature.
“ThereisDarmstadt，”saidmycomanion.“Doyouerceiveitsmagnificentchateau?Thestorm-cloudbelowmakestheoutlinesofobjectswaver；anditrequiresaractisedeyetorecogniselocalities.”
“YouarecertainthatitisDarmstadt?”
“Undoubtedly；wearesixleaguesfromFrankfort.”
“Thenwemustdescend.”
“Descend!youwouldnotalightuonthesteeles！”saidtheunknown,mockingly.
“No,butintheenvironsofthecity.”
“Well,itistoowarm；letusremountalittle.”
Ashesokethus,heseizedsomebagsofballast.Ireciitatedmyselfuonhim；but,withonehand,heoverthrewme,andthelightenedballoonrosetoaheightof1500metres.
“Sitdown，”saidhe，“anddonotforgetthatBrioschi,Biot,andGay-Lussac,ascendedtoaheightofseventhousandmetres,inordertoestablishsomenewscientifclaws.”
“Wemustdescend；”resumedI,withanattemtatgentleness.“Thestormisgatheringbeneathourfeetandaroundus；itwouldnotberudent.”
“Wewillascendaboveit,andshallhavenothingtofearfromit.Whatmorebeautifulthantoreigninheaven,andlookdownuonthecloudswhichhoveruontheearth！Isitnotanhonourtonavigatetheseaerialwaves?Thegreatestersonageshavetravelledlikeourselves.TheMarquiseandComtessedeMontalembert,theComtessedePotteries,Mlle.LaGarde,theMarquisofMontalembert,setoutfromtheFaubourgSt.Antoinefortheseunknownregions.TheDucdeChartresdislayedmuchaddressandresenceofmindinhisascensionofthe15thofJuly，1784；atLyons,theComtesdeLaurencinanddeDamierre；atNantes,M.deLuynes；atBordeaux,DArbeletdesGranges；inItaly,theChevalierAndreani；inourdays,theDukeofBrunswick；haveleftintheairthetrackoftheirglory.Inordertoequalthesegreatersonages,wemustascendintothecelestialregionshigherthanthey.Toaroachtheinfniteistocomrehendit.”
Therarefactionoftheairconsiderablydilatedthehydrogen,andIsawthelowerartoftheaerostat,designedlyleftemty,becomebydegreesinfated,renderingtheoeningofthevalveindisensable；butmyfearfulcomanionseemeddeterminednottoallowmetodirectourmovements.Iresolvedtoullsecretlythecordattachedtothevalve,whilehewastalkingwithanimation.IfearedtoguesswithwhomIhadtodo；itwouldhavebeentoohorrible！Itwasaboutthree-quartersofanhoursincewehadleftFrankfort,andfromthesouththickcloudswerearisingandthreateningtoengulfus.
“Haveyoulostallhoeofmakingyourlanssucceed?”saidI,withgreataarentinterest.
“Allhoe！”reliedtheunknown,desairingly.“Woundedbyrefusals,caricatures,thoseblowswiththefootofanass,havefnishedme.Itistheeternalunishmentreservedforinnovators.Seethesecaricaturesofeveryagewithwhichmyortfolioisflled.”
Ihadsecuredthecordofthevalve,andstooingoverhisworks,concealedmymovementsfromhim.Itwastobefeared,nevertheless,thathewouldnoticethatrushingsound,likeawaterfall,whichthegasroducesinescaing.
“HowmanyjestsattheexenseoftheAbbeMiolan！HewasabouttoascendwithJanninetandBredin.Duringtheoeration,theirballoontookfre,andanignorantoulacetoreittoieces.ThenthecaricatureofTheCuriousAnimalscalledthemMaulant,JeanMind,andGredin.”
Thebarometerhadbegantorise；itwastime！Adistantmutteringofthunderwasheardtowardsthesouth.
“Seethisotherengraving，”continuedhe,withoutseemingtosusectmymanoeuvres.“Itisanimmenseballoon,containingashi,largecastles,houses,etc.Thecaricaturistslittlethoughtthattheirabsurditieswouldonedaybecomeverities.Itisalargevessel；attheleftisthehelmwiththeilot‘sbox；attherow,maisonsdelaisance,agiganticorgan,andcannontocalltheattentionoftheinhabitantsofearthorofthemoon；abovethesterntheobservatoryandilot-balloon；attheequatorialcircle,thebarracksofthearmy；ontheleftthelantern；thenuergalleriesforromenades,thesails,thewings；beneath,thecafesandgeneralstore-housesofrovisions.Admirethismagnifcentannouncement.Inventedforthegoodofthehumanrace,thisglobewilldeartimmediatelyfortheseaortsintheLevant,andonitsreturnwillannounceitsvoyagesforthetwoolesandtheextremitiesoftheOccident.Everyrovisionismade；therewillbeanexactrateoffareforeachlaceofdestination；butthericesfordistantvoyageswillbethesame，1000louis.Anditmustbeconfessedthatthisisamoderatesum,consideringthecelerity,convenience,andleasureofthismodeoftravellingaboveallothers.Whileinthisballoon,everyonecandiverthimselfasheleases,dancing,laying,orconversingwitheoleoftalent.Pleasurewillbethesouloftheaerialsociety.’Alltheseinventionsexcitedlaughter.Butbeforelong,ifmydayswerenotnumbered,theserojectsshouldbecomerealities.”
Wewerevisiblydescending；hedidnoterceiveit！
“Seethisgameofballoons；itcontainsthewholehistoryoftheaerostaticart.Thisgame,fortheuseofeducatedminds,islayedlikethatoftheJew；withdiceandcountersofanyvalueagreeduon,whicharetobeaidorreceived,accordingtotheconditioninwhichonearrives.”
“But，”Iresumed，“youseemtohavevaluabledocumentsonaerostation?”
“IamlesslearnedthantheAlmighty！Thatisall！Iossessalltheknowledgeossibleinthisworld.FromPhaeton,Icarus,andArchitas.Ihavesearchedall,comrehendedall！Throughme,theaerostaticartwouldrenderimmenseservicestotheworld,ifGodshouldsaremylife！Butthatcannotbe.”
“Whynot?”
“BecausemynameisEmedoclesorErostratus！”
II
Ishuddered！Fortunatelytheballoonwasaroachingtheearth.Butthedangeristhesameat50feetasat5000metres！Thecloudswereadvancing.
“RememberthebattleofFleurus,andyouwillcomrehendtheutilityofaerostats！Coutelle,byorderofthegovernment,organizedacomanyofaerostiers.AtthesiegeofMaubeuge,GeneralJourdanfoundthisnewmethodofobservationsoserviceable,thattwiceaday,accomaniedbytheGeneralhimself,Coutelleascendedintotheair；thecorresondencebetweentheaeronautandtheaerostierswhoheldtheballoon,wascarriedonbymeansoflittlewhite,red,andyellowfags.Cannonsandcarbineswereoftenaimedattheballoonatthemomentofitsascension,butwithouteffect.WhenJourdanwasrearingtoinvestCharleroi,Coutellereairedtotheneighbourhoodofthatlace,rosefromthelainofJumet,andremainedtakingobservationssevenoreighthours,withGeneralMorelot.TheAustrianscametodeliverthecity,andabattlewasfoughtontheheightsofFleurus.GeneralJourdanubliclyroclaimedtheassistancehehadreceivedfromaeronauticobservations.Well!notwithstandingtheservicesrenderedonthisoccasion,andduringthecamaignwithBelgium,theyearwhichwitnessedthecommencementofthemilitarycareerofballoons,alsosawitterminate.AndtheschoolofMeuon,foundedbygovernment,wasclosedbyBonaarte,onhisreturnfromEgyt.Whatarewetoexectfromthechildwhichhasjustbeenborn?Franklinhadsaid.Butthechildwasbornalive！Itneednothavebeenstrangled！”
Theunknownhidhisforeheadinhishands,refectedforafewmoments,then,withoutraisinghishead,saidtome：“Notwithstandingmyorders,youhaveoenedtheuervalve！”
Iletgothecord.
“Fortunately，”continuedhe，“wehavestilltwohundredoundsofballast.”
“Whatareyourlans?”saidI,witheffort.
“Youhavenevercrossedthesea?”
Igrewfrightfullyale,terrorfrozemyveins.
“Itisaity，”saidhe，“thatwearebeingwaftedtowardstheAdriatic！Thatisonlyastreamlet.Higher!weshallfindothercurrents！”
Andwithoutlookingatme,helightenedtheballoonbyseveralbagsofsand.
“Iallowedyoutooenthevalve,becausethedilatationofthegasthreatenedtobursttheballoon.Butdonotdoitagain.”
Iwasstuid.
YouknowthevoyagefromDovertoCalaismadebyBlanchardandJefferies.Itwasrichinincident.Onthe7thofJanuary，1785，inanortheastwind,theirballoonwasfilledwithgasontheDoverside；scarcelyhadtheyrisen,whenanerrorinequilibriumcomelledthemtothrewouttheirballast,retainingonlythirtyounds.ThewinddriftedthemslowlyalongtowardstheshoresofFrance.Theermeabilityofthetissuegraduallysufferedthegastoescae,andattheexirationofanhourandahalf,thevoyagerserceivedthattheyweredescending.
‘Whatistobedone?’saidJefferies.
‘Wehaveassedoveronlythree-fourthsofthedistance，’reliedBlanchard‘andataslightelevation.Byascendingweshallexoseourselvestocontrarywinds.Throwouttheremainderoftheballast.’
Theballoonregaineditsascensionalforce,butsoonre-descended.Aboutmidwayofthevoyage,theaeronautsthrewouttheirbooksandtools.
Aquarterofanhourafterwards,BlanchardsaidtoJefferies：‘Thebarometer?’
‘Itisrising！Wearelost；andyettherearetheshoresofFrance！’
Agreatnoisewasheard.
‘Istheballoonrent?’askedJefferies.
‘No!theescaeofthegashascollasedthelowerartoftheballoon.’
‘Butwearestilldescending.Wearelost！Everythingnotindisensablemustbethrownoverboard！’
Theirrovisions,oarsandhelmwerethrownoutintothesea.Theywerenowonly100metresinheight.
‘Weareremounting，’saidtheDoctor.
‘No,itisthejerkcausedbythediminutionofweight.Thereisnotashiinsight！Notabarkonthehorizon！Totheseawithourgarments！’
Andtheunfortunatemenstried,buttheballooncontinuedtodescend.
‘Blanchard，’saidJefferies，‘youweretohavemadethisvoyagealone；youconsentedtotakeme；Iwillsacrifcemyselftoyou！Iwillthrowmyselfintothewater,andtheballoon,relieved,willreascend！’
‘No,no,itisfrightful.’Theballooncollasedmoreandmore,anditsconcavityformingaarachute,forcedthegasagainstitssidesandaccelerateditsmotion.
‘Adieu,myfriend，’saidtheDoctor.‘MayGodreserveyou！’Hewasabouttohavetakenthelea,whenBlancharddetainedhim.
‘Oneresourceremainstous！Wecancutthecordsbywhichthecarisattached,andclingtothenetwork?erhastheballoonwillrise.Ready！Butthebarometerfalls！Weremount！Thewindfreshens！Wearesaved！’
“ThevoyagerserceivedCalais！Theirjoybecamedelirium；afewmomentslater,theydescendedintheforestofGuines.”
“Idoubtnot，”continuedtheunknown，“thatinsimilarcircumstancesyouwouldfollowtheexamleofDoctorJefferies.”
III
Thecloudswereunrollingbeneathourfeetinglitteringcascades；theballooncastadeeshadowonthisileofclouds,andwassurroundedbythemaswithanaureola！Thethundergrowledbeneathourfeet！Allthiswasfrightful！
“Letusdescend！”exclaimedI.
“Descend,whenthesunisawaitingusyonder！Downwiththebags！”Andhelightenedtheballoonofmorethanfiftyounds.At3000metresweremainedstationary.Theunknowntalkedincessantly,butIscarcelyheardhim；Iwascomletelyrostrated,whileheseemedinhiselement.
“Withagoodwind,weshallgofar,butwemusteseciallygohigh！”
“Wearelost！”
“IntheAntillestherearecurrentsofairwhichtravelahundredleaguesanhour！OntheoccasionofNaoleon‘scoronation,Gavnerinletoffaballoonilluminatedwithcolouredlams,ateleveno’clockintheevening！ThewindblewfromtheN.N.E.；thenextmorningatdaybreaktheinhabitantsofRomesaluteditsassageabovethedomeofSt.Peters.Wewillgofarther.”
Iscarcelyheardhim；everythingwasbuzzingaroundme！Therewasanoeningintheclouds！
“Seethatcity,myhost；”saidtheunknown.“ItisSire.Nothingelse！”
Idarednotleanovertherailingofthecar.NeverthelessIerceivedalittleblacksot.ThiswasSire.ThebroadRhinelookedlikeariband,thegreatroadslikethreads.Aboveourheadstheskywasofadeeazure；Iwasbenumbedwiththecold.Thebirdshadlongsinceforsakenus；inthisrarefedairtheirfightwouldhavebeenimossible.Wewerealoneinsace,andIintheresenceofastrangeman！
“ItisuselessforyoutoknowwhitherIamtakingyou.”saidhe,andhethrewthecomassintotheclouds.“Afallisafnething.YouknowthattherehavebeenafewvictimsfromPilatredesRosiersdowntoLieutenantGale,andthesemisfortuneshavealwaysbeencausedbyimrudence.PilatredesRosiersascendedincomanywithRemain,atBoulogne,onthe13thofJune，1785.Tohisballoon,infatedwithgas,hehadsusendedamongolferflledwithwarmair,undoubtedlytosavethetroubleoflettingoffgas,orthrowingoutballast.Itwaslikeuttingachafng-dishbeneathaowder-cask.Theimrudentmenrosetoaheightoffourhundredmetres,andencounteredoosingwinds,whichdrovethemovertheocean.Inordertodescend,Pilatreattemtedtooenthevalveoftheaerostat；butthecordofthisvalvecaughtintheballoon,andtoreitsothatitwasemtiedinaninstant.Itfellonthemontgolfer,overturnedit,andtheimrudentmenweredashedtoiecesinafewseconds.Itisfrightful,isitnot?”saidtheunknown,shakingmefrommytoror.
Icouldrelyonlybythesewords：
“Inity,letusdescend！Thecloudsaregatheringaroundusineverydirection,andfrightfuldetonationsreverberatingfromthecavityoftheaerostataremultilyingaroundus.”
“Youmakemeimatient！”saidhe.“Youshallnolongerknowwhetherweareascendingordescending.”
Andthebarometerwentafterthecomass,alongwithsomebagsofsand.Wemusthavebeenataheightoffourthousandmetres.Someicicleswereattachedtothesidesofthecar,andasortoffnesnowenetratedtomybones.Meanwhileaterrifcstormwasburstingbeneathourfeet.Wewereaboveit.
“Donotfear，”saidmystrangecomanion；“itisonlyimrudencethatmakesvictims.Olivari,whoerishedatOrleans,ascendedinamontgolfiermadeofaer；hiscar,susendedbelowthechafng-dish,andballastedwithcombustiblematerials,becameareytothefames！Olivarifell,andwaskilled.MosmentascendedatLille,onalightlatform；anoscillationmadehimlosehisequilibrium.Mosmentfell,andwaskilled.Bittorf,atManheim,sawhisaerballoontakefreintheair！Bittorffell,andwaskilled.Harrisascendedinaballoonbadlyconstructed,thevalveofwhichwastoolargetobeclosedagain.Harrisfell,andwaskilled.Sadler,derivedofballastbyhislongstayintheair,wasdraggedoverthecityofBoston,andthrownagainstthechimneys.Sadlerfell,andwaskilled.Cockingdescendedwithaconvexarachutewhichheretendedtohaveerfected.Cockingfell,andwaskilled.Well,Ilovethem,thosenoblevictimsoftheircourage!andIwilldielikethem！Higher！Higher！”
Allthehantomsofthisnecrologywereassingbeforemyeyes！Therarefactionoftheairandtheraysoftilesunincreasedthedilatationofthegas；theballooncontinuedtoascend！Imechanicallyattemtedtooenthevalve；buttheunknowncutthecordafewfeetabovemyhead.Iwaslost！
“DidyouseeMadameBlanchardfall?”saidhetome.“Isawher,yes,IwasatTivolionthe6thofJuly，1819.MadameBlanchardascendedinaballoonofsmallsize,tosavetheexenseofflling；shewasthereforeobligedtoinfateitentirely,andthegasescaedbythelowerorifice,leavingonitsrouteatrainofhydrogen.Shecarried,susendedabovehercar,byanironwire,akindoffrework,forminganaureola,whichshewastokindle.Shehadoftenreeatedthisexeriment.Onthisoccasionshecarried,besides,alittlearachute,ballastedbyafreworkterminatinginaballwithsilverrain.Sitewastolaunchthisaaratus,afterhavinglighteditwithasmokebomb,rearedfortheurose.Sheascended.Thenightwasdark.Atthemomentoflightingthefirework,shewassoimrudentastoletthelanceassbeneaththecolumnofhydrogen,whichwasescaingfromtheballoon.Myeyeswerefxedonher.Suddenlyanunexectedfashilluminatedthedarkness.Ithoughtitasurriseoftheskilfulaeronaut.Theflameincreased,suddenlydisaeared,andre-aearedatthetooftheaerostatundertheformofanimmensejetofburninggas.ThissinisterlightrojectedovertheBoulevard,andoverthequarterMontmartre.ThenIsawtheunfortunatewomanrise,twiceattemttocomresstheorificeoftheballoon,toextinguishthefire,thenseatherselfinthecarandseektodirectitsdescent；forshedidnotfall.Thecombustionofthegaslastedseveralminutes.Theballoon,diminishingbydegrees,continuedtodescend,butthiswasnotafall！Thewindblewfromthenortheast,anddroveheroverParis.Therewere,atthattime,intheneighbourhoodofthehouseNo.16RuedeProvence,immensegardens.Theaeronautmighthavefallentherewithoutdanger.Butunhailytheballoonandthecaralightedontheroofofthehouse.Theshockwasslight.‘Hel！’criedtheunfortunatewoman.Iarrivedinthestreetatthatmoment.Thecarslidalongtheroof,andencounteredanironhook.Atthisshock,MadameBlanchardwasthrownoutofthecar,andreciitatedontheavement！Shewaskilled！”
Thesehistoriesoffatalauguryfrozemewithhorror.Theunknownwasstandinguright,withbarehead,bristlinghair,haggardeyes.
Illusionwasnolongerossible.Isawatlastthehorribletruth.Ihadtodealwithamadman！
Hethrewouthalftheballast,andwemusthavebeenbornetoaheightof7000metres！Bloodsoutedfrommynoseandmouth.
“Whatafinethingitistobemartyrstoscience！Theyarecanonizedbyosterity！”
Iheardnomore.Theunknownlookedaroundhimwithhorror,andkneltatmyear.Onthe7thofOctober，1804，theweatherhadbegantoclearualittle；forseveraldaysreceding,thewindandrainhadbeenincessant.ButtheascensionannouncedbyZambecarricouldnotbeostoned！Hisidiotenemiesalreadyscoffedathim.Tosavehimselfandsciencefromublicridicule,itbecamenecessaryforhimtoascend.ItwasatBologna！Nooneaidedhiminfllinghisballoon；heroseatmidnight,accomaniedbyAndreoliandGrossetti.Theballoonascendedslowly；ithadbeenrentbythewind,andthegasescaed.Thethreeintreidvoyagerscouldobservethestateofthebarometeronlybytheaidofadarklantern.Zambecarrihadnoteatenduringtwenty-fourhours；Grossettiwasalsofasting.
‘Myfriends，’saidZambecarri，‘Iambenumbedwiththecold；Iamexhausted；Imustdie；’andhefellsenselessinthegallery.
ItwasthesamewithGrossetti,Andreolialoneremainedawake.AfterlongeffortshesucceededinarousingZambecarrifromhisstuor.
‘Whatistherenew?Wherearewegoing?Inwhichdirectionisthewind?Whattimeisit?’
‘Itistwoo’clock！
‘Whereisthecomass?’
‘Ithasfallenout.’
‘GreatGod!thelamisextinguished！’
‘Itcouldnotburnlongerinthisrarefedair！’saidZambecarri.
Themoonhadnotrisen；theatmosherewaslungedinhorribledarkness.
‘Iamcold,Iamcold,Andreoli！Whatshallwedo?’Theunfortunatemenslowlydescendedthroughalayerofwhiteclouds....
