andforalengthoftimesuchsoundswerevouchsafedus——thebarkofadog，thelowingofcattle，theringingtrotofahorseonsomehardroadfardown。
Andthen，aswewereexpecting，thesunclimbedupintoanunsulliedsky，and，mountingbyleapsandbounds，wewatchedthecloudfloorrecedingbeneathus。Theeffectwasextremelybeautiful。AdescriptionwrittentotheTimesthenextmorning，whiletheimpressionwasstillfresh，andfromnotesmadeatthisperiod，ranthus:——"Awaytoaninfinitelydistanthorizonstretchedrollingbillowsofsnowywhiteness，brokenuphereandthereintoseemingicefields，withhugefantastichummocks。Elsewheredomesandspiresrearedthemselvesabovethegeneralsurface，oranisolatedMatterhorntoweredintospace。Insomequartersitwasimpossibletolookwithouttheconvictionthatweactuallybeheldtheoutlineofloftycliffsoverhanginganonetoodistantsea。"Shortlywebegantohearloudreportsoverhead，resemblingsmallexplosions，andweknewwhatthesewere——themoist，shrunkennettingwasgivingoutunderthehotsunandyieldingnowandagainwithsuddenreleasetotherapidlyexpandinggas。Itwas，therefore，withgraveconcern，butwithnosurprise，thatwhenwenextturnedtotheaneroidwefoundtheindexpointingto9，000feet，andstillmovingupwards。
Hourafterhourpassedby，and，soundshavingceasedtoreachus，itremainsuncertainwhetherornowewereactuallycarriedouttoseaandheadedbackagainbycontrarycurrents，anexperiencewithwhichaeronauts，includingthewriter，havebeenfamiliar;but，atlength，therewasborneuptousthedistantsoundofheavyhammersandoffrequenttrains，fromwhichwegatheredthatwewereprobablyoverBristol，anditwasthenthatthethoughtoccurredtomydaughterthatwemightpossiblycommunicatewiththosebelowwithaviewtosuccour。
Thisledtoourwritingthefollowingmessagemanytimesoveronblanktelegraphformsandcastingthemdown:——"Urgent。
LargeballoonfromNewburytravellingoverheadabovetheclouds。Cannotdescend。Telegraphtoseacoast（coast—guards）
tobereadytorescue。——BaconandSpencer。"
Whilethusoccupiedwecaughtthesoundofwaves，andtheshriekofaship’ssiren。WewerecrossingareachoftheSevern，andmostofourmissivesprobablyfellinthesea。Butovertheestuarytheremusthavebeenacolduppercurrentblowing，whichcrippledourballoon，fortheaneroidpresentlytoldofafallof2，000feet。Itwasnowpastnoon，andtoustheturnofthetidewascome。Veryslowly，andwithstrangefluctuations，theballooncreptdowntillitreachedandbecameenvelopedinthecloudbelow，andthentheendwasnear。Theactualdescentoccupiednearlytwohours，andaffordsacuriousstudyinaerostation。Thedetailsoftheballoon’sdyingstrugglesandofourownroughdescent，entailingthefractureofmydaughter’sarm，aretoldinanothervolume。*
WefellnearNeath，Glamorganshire，onlyoneandahalfmilesshortofthesea，completingavoyagewhichisarecordinEnglishballooning——tenhoursfromstarttofinish。
*"ByLandandSky，"bytheAuthor。
CHAPTERXXVI。RECENTAERONAUTICALEVENTS。
ThefirsttrialoftheZeppelinairshipwasarrangedtotakeplaceonJune30th，1900，adaywhich，fromabsenceofwind，waseminentlywellsuitedforthepurpose;buttheinflationprovedtooslowaprocess，andoperationswerepostponedtothemorrow。Themorrow，however，wassomewhatwindy，causingdelay，andbythetimeallwasinreadinessdarknesshadsetinandthestartwasoncemorepostponed。Ontheeveningofthethirddaythemonstercraftwasskilfullyandsuccessfullymanoeuvred，and，risingwithaverylightwind，gotfairlyaway，carryingCountZeppelinandfourotherpersonsinthetwocars。Driftingwiththewind，itattainedaheightofsome800
or900feet，atwhichpointthesteeringapparatusbeingbroughtintoplayitcircledroundandfacedthewind，whenitremainedstationary。Butnotforlong。Shortlyitbegantodescendand，sinkinggradually，gracefully，andinperfectsafety，inaboutnineminutesitreachedandrestedonthewater，whenitwastowedhome。
Alittlelaterinthemonth，July，anothertrialwasmade，whenawindwasblowingestimatedatsixteenmilesanhour。Asonthepreviousoccasion，thedirectinfluenceofthesunwasavoidedbywaitingtilleveninghours。Itascendedat8p。m。，andtheenginesgettingtoworkitmadeaslowprogressofabouttwomilesanhouragainstthewindforabout31/2miles，whenoneoftheruddersgaveway，andthemachinewasobligedtodescend。
OntheeveningofOctober24thofthesameyear，inverycalmweatherandwithbetterhope，anotherascentwasmade。Onthisoccasion，however，successwasfrustratedbyoneoftherearruddersgettingfoulofthegear，followedbytheescapeofgasfromoneoftheballoons。
Anotherandmoresuccessfultrialtookplaceinthesamemonth，againincalmatmosphere。Inferiorgaswasemployed，anditwouldappearthatthevesselhadnotsufficientbuoyancy。Itremainedaloftforaperiodoftwentyminutes，duringwhichitprovedperfectlymanageable，makingagracefuljourneyoutandhome，andreturningclosetoitspointofdeparture。Thismagnificentairship，theresultoftwentyyearsofexperiment，hassincebeenabandonedandbrokenup;yetthesacrificehasnotbeenwithoutresult。OverandabovethestimuluswhichCountZeppelin’sgreatendeavourhasgiventotheaeronauticalworld，twospecialtriumphsarehis。Hehasshownballoonistshowtomakeaperfectlygas—tightmaterial，andhasraisedpowerfulpetroleummotorsinaballoonwithsafety。
Intheearlypartof1900itwasannouncedthatamemberoftheParisAeroClub，whoatthetimewithheldhisname（M。Deutsch）
offeredaprizeof100，000francstotheaeronautwho，eitherinaballoonorflyingmachine，startingfromthegroundsoftheAeroClubatLongchamps，wouldmakeajourneyroundtheEiffelTower，returningtothestartingplacewithinhalfanhour。Thedonorwouldwithdrawhisprizeifnotwonwithinfiveyears，andinthemeanwhilewouldpay4，000francsannuallytowardstheencouragementofworthyexperimenters。
Itwasfromthistimethatflyingmachinesingreatvarietyandgoodlynumberbegantobeheardof，ifnotactuallyseen。OneoftheearliesttobeannouncedinthePresswasamachineinventedbytheRussian，Feedoroff，andtheFrenchman，Dupont。
Dr。Danilewskycameforwardwithaflyingmachinecombiningballoonandaeroplane，thesteeringofwhichwouldbeworkedlikeavelocipedebythefeetoftheaeronaut。
Mr。P。Y。Alexander，ofBath，whohadlongbeenanenthusiasticballoonist，andwhohaddevotedavastamountofpains，originality，andengineeringskilltothepursuitofaeronautics，wasatthistimegivingmuchattentiontotheflyingmachine，andwas，indeed，oneoftheassistantsinthefirstsuccessfullaunchingoftheZeppelinairship。InconcertwithMr。W。G。Walker，A。M。I。C。E。，Mr。Alexandercarriedoutsomevaluableandexhaustiveexperimentsontheliftingpowerofairpropellers，30feetindiameter，drivenbyaportableengine。Theresults，whichwereofapurelytechnicalnature，havebeenembodiedinacarefullycompiledmemoir。
Anairshipnowappeared，inventedbyM。Rose，consistingoftwoelongatedvesselsfilledwithgas，andcarryingtheworkinggearandcarbetweenthem。Themachinewasintentionallymadeheavierthanair，andwasoperatedbyapetrolmotorof12—horsepower。
Itwasnowthatannouncementsbegantobemadetotheeffectthat，nexttotheZeppelinairship，M。SantosDumont’sballoonwasprobablyattractingmostoftheattentionofexperts。Theaccountgivenofthisairvessel]bytheDailyExpresswassomewhatstartling。Theballoonproperwascomparedtoalargetorpedo。Threefeetbeneaththishangsthegasolinemotorwhichistosupplythepower。Thepropelleris12feetindiameter，andisrevolvedsorapidlybythemotorthattheenginefrequentlygetsredhot。Theonlyaccommodationforthetravellerisalittlebicycleseat，fromwhichtheaeronautwilldirecthismotorandsteeringgearbymeansoftreadles。
Thentheinclinationordeclinationofhismachinemustbenotedonthespiritlevelathisside，andthe200oddpoundsofballastmustberegulatedasthecourserequires。
AmoredetailedaccountofthisnavigableballoonwasfurnishedbyamemberoftheParisAeroClub。Fromthisauthoritywelearnthatthecapacityoftheballoonwas10，700cubicfeet。
Itcontainedaninnerballoonandanairfan，thefunctionofwhichwastomaintaintheshapeoftheballoonwhenmeetingthewind，andthewholewasoperatedbya10—horsepowermotorcapableofworkingthescrewat100revolutionsperminute。
ButbeforetheaerialexploitsofSantosDumonthadbecomefamous，balloonshadagainclaimedpublicattention。OnAugust1stCaptainSpelterini，withtwocompanions，takingaballoonand180cylindersofhydrogentothetopoftheRigiandascendingthence，pursuedanorth—eastcourse，acrossextensiveandbeautifultractsoficefieldandmountainfastnessesunvisitedbymen。Thedescent，whichwasdifficultandcritical，washappilymanoeuvred。ThistookplaceontheGnuetseven，apeakover5，000feethigh，theplateauonwhichthevoyagerslandedbeingdescribedasonly50yardssquare，surroundedbyprecipices。
Onthe10thofSeptemberfollowingthewriterwasfortunateincarryingoutsomewirelesstelegraphyexperimentsinaballoon，thesuccessofwhichisentirelyduetotheunrivalledskillofMr。NevilMaskelyne，F。R。A。S。，andtohiscleveradaptationofthespecialapparatusofhisowninventiontotheexigenciesofafreeballoon。TheoccasionwasthegardenpartyattheBradfordmeetingoftheBritishAssociation，AdmiralSirEdmundFremantletakingpartinthevoyage，withMr。PercivalSpencerincharge。Theexperimentwastoincludethefiringofamineinthegroundstwominutesaftertheballoonhadleft，andthisitemwasentirelysuccessful。Themainideawastoattempttoestablishcommunicationbetweenabaseandafreeballoonretreatingthroughspaceataheightbeyondpracticablegunshot。Thewindwasfastandsqually，andtheunavoidableroughjoltingwhichthecarreceivedatthestartputthetransmittinginstrumentoutofaction。Themessages，however，whichweresentfromthegroundsatListerParkwerereceivedandwatchedbytheoccupantsofthecaruptoadistanceoftwentymiles，atwhichpointthevoyageterminated。
OnSeptember30th，andalsoonOctober9th，ofthisyear，tookplacetwoprincipalballoonracesfromVincennesinconnectionwiththeParisExposition。Inthefirstrace，amongthosewhocompetedwereM。JacquesFaure，theCountdelaVaulx，andM。
JacquesBalsan。TheCountwasthewinner，reachingWocawek，inRussianPoland，atravelof706miles，in21hours34minutes。
M。Balsanwassecond，descendingnearDantziginEastPrussia，757miles，in22hours。M。JacquesFaurereachedMamlitz，inEastPrussia，adistanceof753miles。
InthefinalracetheCountdelaVaulxmadearecordvoyageof1，193miles，reachingKorosticheff，inRussia，in35hours45
minutes，attainingamaximumaltitudeof18，810feet。M。J。
Balsanreachedagreaterheight，namely，21，582feet，travellingtoRodom，inRussia，adistanceof843miles，in27
hours25minutes。
Somephenomenalaltitudeswereattainedatthistime。InSeptember，1898，Dr。Berson，ofBerlin，ascendedfromtheCrystalPalaceinaballooninflatedwithhydrogen，underthemanagementofMr。StanleySpencer，oxygenbeinganessentialpartoftheequipment。Thestartwasmadeat5p。m。，andtheballoonatfirstdriftedsouth—east，outoverthemouthoftheThames，untilatanaltitudeof10，000feetanuppercurrentchangedthecoursetosouthwest，theballoonmountingrapidlytill23，000feetwasreached，atwhichheightthecoastofFrancewasplainlyseen。At25，000feetbothvoyagersweregasping，andcompelledtoinhaleoxygen。At27，500feet，onlyfourbagsofballastbeingleft，thedescentwascommenced，andasafelandingwaseffectedatRomford。
SubsequentlyDr。Berson，incompanywithDr。Suring，ascendingfromBerlin，attainedanaltitudeof34，000feet。At30，000
feettheaeronautswereinhalingoxygen，andbeforereachingtheirhighestpointbothhadforaconsiderabletimeremainedunconscious。
In1901anewaeroplaneflyingmachinebegantoattractattention，theinventionofHerrKress。AnovelfeatureofthemachinewasadevicetorenderitofavailforArctictravel。
Inshapeitmightbecomparedtoaniceboatwithtwokeelsandalongstem，thekeelsbeingadaptedtorunoniceorsnow，whiletheboatwouldfloatonwater。Powerwastobederivedfromapetrolmotor。
AtthesameperiodM。HenrySutorwasbusyonLakeConstancewithanairshipdesignedalsotofloatonwater。ThenMr。
Buchananfollowedwithafish—shapedvessel，oneofthemostimportantspecialitiesofwhichconsistedinsidepropellers，thesurfacesofwhichwereroughenedwithminutediagonalgroovestoeffectagreatergripontheair。
Nolessoriginalwastheairship，100feetlong，andcarrying18，000cubicfeetofgas，whichMr。W。Beedlewasengagedupon。
Inthismachine，besidesthepropellersforcontrollingthehorizontalmotion，therewasonetoregulateverticalmotion，withaviewofobviatingexpenditureofgasorballast。
ButbythistimeM。SantosDumont，pursuinghishobbywithunparalleledperseverance，hadbuiltinsuccessionnolessthansixairships，meetingwithnomeansuccess，profitingbyeverylessontaughtbyfailures，andmakinglightofallaccidents，greatorsmall。OnJuly15th，1901，hemadeafamoustryfortheDeutschprizeinacigar—shapedballoon，110feetlong，19，000cubicfeetcapacity，carryingaDaimleroilmotorof15—horsepower。Thedaywasnotfavourable，but，startingfromtheParcd’Aerostation，hewasabreastoftheEiffelTowerinthirteenminutes，circlingroundwhich，andbattlingagainstaheadwind，hereachedthegroundsoftheAeroClubin41
minutesfromthestart，or11minuteslatebytheconditionsoftheprize。Acylinderhadbrokendown，andthebalanceofthevesselhadbecomeupset。
Withinafortnight——July29th——infavourableweather，hemadeanotherflight，lastingfifteenminutes，attheendofwhichhehadreturnedtohisstartingground。ThenonAugust8thamoremomentousattemptcameoff。Sailingupwitharapidascent，andflyingwiththewind，SantosDumontcoveredthedistancetotheTowerinfiveminutesonly，andgracefullyswunground;
but，immediatelyafter，thewindplayedhavoc，slowingdownthemotor，atthesametimedamagingtheballoon，andcausinganescapeofgas。OnthisSantosDumont，ascendinghigherintothesky，quittedthecar，andclimbedalongthekeeltoinspect，and，ifpossible，rectifythemotor，butwithlittlesuccess。Theballoonwasemptying，andthemachinepitchedbadly，tillafurtherrentoccurred，whenitcommencedfallinghopelesslyandwithaspeedmomentarilyincreasing。
Slantingoveraroof，theballooncaughtachimneyandtoreasunder;butthewreck，alsocatching，heldfast，whilethecarhunghelplesslydownablankwall。Inthisperilouspredicamentgreatcoolnessandagilityaloneaverteddisaster，tillfiremenwereabletocometotherescue。
Theairshipwasdamagedbeyondrepair，butbySeptember6thanotherwascompleted，andontrialappearedtoworkwelluntil，whiletravellingatspeed，itwasbroughtupandbadlystrainedbythetrailropecatchingintrees。
EarlyinthenextmonththeyoungBrazilianwasaloftagain，withweatherconditionsentirelyinhisfavour;butagaincertainminormishapspreventedhisnextstrugglefortheprize，whichdidnottakeplacetillthe19th。Onthisdayalightcrosswindwasblowing，notsufficient，however，seriouslytoinfluencethefirststageofthetimerace，andtheoutwardjourneywasaccomplishedwithadirectflightinnineminutes。Onroundingthetower，however，thewindbegantotellprejudicially，andthepropellerbecamederanged。Onthis，lettinghisvesselfallofffromthewind，SantosDumontcrawledalongtheframeworktillhereachedthemotor，whichhesucceededinagainsettinginworkingorder，thoughnotwithoutadelayofseveralminutesandsomelossofground。Fromthatpointthereturnjourneywasaccomplishedineightminutes，andtheracewas，atthetime，declaredlostby40secondsonly。
ThemostimportantandnovelfeatureintheairshipsconstructedbySantosDumontwastheinternalballonet，inflatedautomaticallybyaventilator，theexpedientbeingdesignedtopreservetheshapeofthemainballoonitselfwhilemeetingthewind。Onthewhole，itansweredwell，andtooktheplaceoftheheavywirecageusedbyZeppelin。
M。deFonvielle，commentingontheachievementsofSantosDumont，wrote:——"Itdoesnotappearthathehasnavigatedhisballoonagainstmorethanverylightwinds，butinhismachineryhehasshownsuchattentiontodetailthatitmayreasonablybeexpectedthatifhecontinuestoincreasehismotivepowerhewill，erelong，exceedpastperformances。"
Mr。Chanutehasafurtherwordtosayaboutthepossibilityofmakingballoonsnavigable。Heconsidersthattheirsizewillhavetobegreattothevergeofimpracticabilityandthepowerofthemotorenormousinproportiontoitsweight。Astoflyingmachines，properlysocalled，hecalculatesthebestthathasbeendonetobethesustainingoffrom27lbs。to55
lbs。perhorsepowerbyimpactupontheair。ButMr。Chanutealsoarguesthattheequilibriumisofprimeimportance，andonthispointtherecouldscarcelybeagreaterauthority。Nooneoflivingmenhasgivenmoreattentiontotheproblemof"soaring，"anditisstatedthathehashadaboutathousand"slides"madebyassistants，withdifferenttypesofmachine，andallwithouttheslightestaccident。
Manyotheraerialvesselsmightbementioned。Mr。T。H。
Bastin，ofClapham，hasbeenengagedformanyyearsonamachinewhichshouldimitatebirdflightasnearlyasthismaybepracticable。
BaronBradskyaimsatanavigableballoononanambitiousscale。M。TatinisanothercandidatefortheDeutschprize。
OfDr。Barton’sairshipmoreislookedfor，asbeingdesignedfortheWarOffice。Itisunderstoodthattheofficialrequirementsdemandamachinewhich，whilecapableoftransportingamanthroughtheairataspeedof13milesanhour，canremainfullyinflatedfor48hours。Oneofthemostsanguine，aswellasenterprising，imitatorsofSantosDumontwasafellowcountryman，AugusteSevero。Ofhismachineduringconstructionlittlecouldbegathered，andstilllessseen，fromthefactthatthevariouspartswerebeingmanufacturedatdifferentworkshops，butitwasknowntobeoflargesizeandtobefittedwithpowerfulmotors。Thiswasanill—fatedvessel。AtanearlyhouronMay12thofthisyear，1902，allPariswasstartledbyareportthatM。Severoandhisassistant，M。Sachethadbeenkilledwhilemakingatrialexcursion。Itappearsthatatdaybreakithadbeendecidedthatthefavourablemomentfortrialhadarrived。Themachinerywasgotready，andwithlittledelaytheairvesselwasdismissedandrosequietlyandsteadilyintothecalmsky。
TheDailyMailgivesthefollowingaccountofwhatensued:——
"Forthefirstfewminutesallwentwell，andthemotorseemedtobeworkingsatisfactorily。Theairshipansweredthehelmreadily，andadmiringexclamationsrosefromthecrowd……Butasthevesselrosehighershewasseentofallofffromthewind，whiletheaeronautscouldbeseenvainlyendeavouringtokeepherheadon。ThenM。Severocommencedthrowingoutballast……Allthistimetheshipwasgraduallysoaringhigherandhigheruntil，justasitwasovertheMontparnasseCemetery，attheheightof2，000feet，asheetofflamewasseentoshootupfromoneofthemotors，andinstantlytheimmensesilkenvelopecontaining9，000cubicfeetofhydrogenwasenvelopedinleapingtonguesoffire……Assoonastheflamescameincontactwiththegasatremendousexplosionfollowed，andinaninstantallthatwasleftoftheairshipfelltotheearth。"Bothaeronautsweredashedtopieces。Itwasthoughtthatthefatalitywascausedthroughfaultyconstruction，theescapevalveforthegasbeingsituatedonlyaboutninefeetfromthemotor。ItwasannouncedbyCountdelaVaulxthatduringthesummerof1901hewouldattempttocrosstheMediterraneanbyaballoon，provisionedforthreeweeks，maintainingcommunicationwiththecoastduringhisvoyagebywirelesstelegraphyandothermethodsofsignalling。
Hewastomakeuseofthe"HerveDeviator，"orsteeringapparatus，whichmaybedescribedasaseriesofcupshapedplatesdippinginthewaterattheendofatrailrope。Bymeansofcontrollingcordsworkedfromthecar，thewholeseriesofplatescouldbeturnedatanangletothedirectionofthewind，bywhichtheballoon’scoursewouldbealtered。
CountdelaVaulxattemptedthisgrandjourneyonOctober12th，startingfromToulonwiththeintentionofreachingAlgiers，takingtheprecaution，however，ofhavingacruiserinattendance。WhenfiftymilesoutfromMarseillesapassingsteamerreceivedfromtheballoonthesignal，"All’swell";butthewindhadveeredroundtotheeast，and，remainingpersistentlyinthisquarter，theCountabandonedhisventure，and，signallingtothecruiser，succeededinalightingonherdeck，not，however，beforehehadcompletedthesplendidandrecordvoyageof41hours’duration。
CHAPTERXXVII。THEPOSSIBILITIESOFBALLOONSINWARFARE。
Clearlythetimehasnotyetarrivedwhentheflyingmachinewillbeserviceableinwar。Yetwearenotwithoutthosetheoriserswho，atthepresentmoment，wouldseriouslyproposeschemesforconveyingdynamiteandotherexplosivesbyairship，ordroppingthemoverhostileforcesorfortresses，orevenfleetsatsea。Theygoyetfurther，andgravelydiscussthepointwhethersuchwarfarewouldbelegitimate。We，however，maysayatonce，emphatically，thatanysuchschemeissimplyimpracticable。Itmustbeabundantlyevidentthat，sofar，noformofdirigibleairshipexistswhichcouldbereliedontocarryoutanyrequiredmanoeuvreinsuchatmosphericconditionsasgenerallyprevail。If，evenincalmandfavourableweather，moreoftenthannotmotorsbreakdown，orgearcarriesaway，whathopeisthereforanyaerialcraftwhichwouldattempttobattlewithsuchwindcurrentsascommonlyblowaloft？
Andwhenweturntotheballoonproper，arechancesgreatlyimproved？Theeminentlypracticalaeronaut，JohnWise，aswastoldinChapterXII。，preparedaschemeforthereductionofVeraCruzbytheagencyofaballoon。Letusglanceatit。A
singleballoonwastosuffice，measuring100feetindiameter，andcapableofraisinginthegross30，000lbs。Tomanoeuvrethismonstrousenginehecalculateshewouldrequireacablefivemileslong，bymeansofwhichhehoped，insomemanner，toworkhiswaydirectlyoverthefortress，andtoremainpoisedatthatpointattheheightofamileinthesky。Oncegrantedthathecouldarriveandmaintainhimselfatthatposition，thethrowingoutofcombustibleswouldbesimple，thougheventhenthespotwheretheywouldalightafterthedropofamilewouldbebynomeanscertain。Itisalsoobviousthatavastamountofgaswouldhavetobesacrificedtocompensatefortheprodigaldischargeofballastintheformofmissiles。
Theideaofmanoeuvringaballooninawind，andpoisingitinthemannersuggested，is，ofcourse，preposterous;andwhenoneconsiderstheattempttoaimbombsfromamovingballoonhighinairthecasebecomesyetmoreabsurd。Anysuchmissilewouldpartakeofthemotionoftheballoonitself，anditwouldbeimpossibletotellwhereitwouldstriketheearth。
Togiveanexamplewhichisoftenenoughtriedinballoontravelwhenthegroundbelowisclear。Aglassbottle（presumablyempty）iscastoverboardanditsfallwatched。Itisseennottobeleftbehind，buttokeeppacewiththeballoon，shrinkinggraduallytoanobjecttoosmalltobediscerned，exceptwheneverynowandthenarayofsunlightreflectedoffitrevealsitforamomentasitcontinuestoplungedownwards。Afteraveryfewsecondstheimpressionisthatitisabouttoreachtheearth，andtheeyeformsaguessatsomespotwhichitwillstrike;butthespotisquicklypassed，andthebottletravelsfarbeyondacrossafield，overthefurtherfence，andvastlyfurtheryet;indeed，inasmuchastofallamileinairaheavybodymaytakeovertwentyseconds——andtwentysecondsislongtothosewhowatch——itisoftenimpossibletotelltotwoorthreefieldswhereitwillfinallysettle。
Allthiswhiletheriskthataballoonwouldrunofbeingriddledbybullets，shrapnel，orpom—pomshasnotbeentakenintoaccount，andastotheestimateofthisriskthereissomedifferenceofopinion。Theballooncorpsandtheartilleryapparentlyapproachthequestionwithdifferentbias。Ontheonehand，itisstatedwithperfecttruththatafreeballoon，whichisgenerallyeitherrisingorfalling，aswellasmovingacrosscountry，isahardobjecttohit，andamarksmanwouldonlystrikeitwithachanceorblunderingshot;but，ontheotherhandletustakethefollowingreportofthreeyearsago。
TheGermanartilleryhadbeentestingtheefficiencyofaquick—firinggunwhenusedagainstaballoon，andtheydecidedthatthelatterwouldhavenochanceofescapeexceptatnight。
AGermankite—balloonwaskeptmovingatanaltitudeof600
metres，andthegunstraineduponitweredistant3，000metres。
Itwasthenstatedthatafterthethirddischargeoftherapidfiringbatterytherangewasfound，whenallwasatonceoverwiththeballoon;for，notonlywasithitwitheverydischarge，butitwaspresentlysetonfireandannihilated。
But，inanycase，theantiquemodeofkeepingaballoonmooredatanyspotasapostofobservationmustbeabandonedinmodernwarfare。MajorBaden—Powell，speakingfrompersonalexperienceinSouthAfrica，hasshownhowdangerous，orelsehowuseless，suchaformofreconnaissancehasbecome。"I
remember，"hesays，"atthebattleofMagersfonteinmycompanywaslyingdowninextendedordertowardstheleftofourline。
Wewereperfectlysafefrommusketryfire，aswelay，perhaps，twomilesfromtheBoertrenches，whichwerebeingshelledbysomeofourgunscloseby。Theenemy’sartillerywaspracticallysilent。Presently，onlookinground，Idescriedourballoonawayoutbehindusabouttwomilesoff。Thenshesteadilyroseandmadeseveraltripstoagoodheight，butwhatcouldbeseenfromthatdistance？Whenalargenumberofourtroopswererangedupwithin800yardsofthetrenches，andmanymoreatallpointsbehindthem，whatusefulinformationcouldbeobtainedbymeansoftheballoonfourmilesoff？"
Thesameeminentauthorityinsistsonthenecessityofanobservingwarballoonmakingshortascents。Theballoon，inhisopinion，shouldbeallowedtoascendrapidlytoitsfullheight，andwithaslittledelayaspossiblebehauleddownagain。Undertheseconditionsitmaythenbewellworthtestingwhethertheprimitiveformofballoon，theMontgolfier，mightnotbethemostvaluable。Insteadofbeingmade，asthewarballoonisnow，offragilematerial，andfilledwithcostlygasdifficulttoprocure，andwhichhastobeconveyedinheavyandcumbersomecylinders，ahotairballooncouldberapidlycarriedbyhandanywherewhereafewmencouldpushtheirway。
Itisofstrongmaterial，readilymendediftorn，andcouldbeinflatedforshortascents，ifnotbymerebrushwood，thenbyaportableblastfurnaceandpetroleum。
Butthereisafurtheruseforballoonsinwarfarenotyetexploited。TheSiegeofParisshowedtheutilityoffreeballoons，andoccasionsarisewhentheirusemightbestillfurtherextended。Thewriterpointedoutthatitmighthavebeenverypossibleforanaeronautofexperience，bychoosingtherightweatherandtherightpositionalongtheBritishlines，tohaveskilfullymanoeuvredafreeballoonbymeansofuppercurrents，soastoconveyall—importantintelligencetobesiegedMafeking，andheprovedthatitwouldhavesufficediftheballooncouldhavebeen"tacked"acrosstheskytowithinsomefifteenmilesofthedesiredgoal。
Themodeofsignallingwhichheproposedwasbymeansofa"collapsingdrum，"aninstrumentofoccasionaluseintheNavy。