Toreachthis，itwasnecessarytoextemporisebymeansofaropeaspeciesofratlinsbywhichhecouldclimbtherigging。Hethencontrivedtoclosetherentwithhisneckcloth。Hewas，bythistime，overthesea，and，manoeuvringhiscraftbyaidofthetwocurrentsathisdisposal，hewascarriedtothesouthshoreoftheIsleofMan，whencehewasconfidentofbeingable，hadhedesiredit，oflandinginCumberland。This，however，beingcontrarytohisintention，heentrustedhimselftothehighercurrent，andbyitwascarriedtothenorth—westofHolyhead。Herehedroppedonceagaintothelowercurrent，driftingsouthoftheSkerryLighthouseacrosstheIsleofAnglesea，andat4。30p。m。foundhimselfabreastoftheGreatOrme’sHead。Eveningnowapproaching，hehaddeterminedtoseekalanding，butatthiscriticaljuncturethewindshiftedtothesouthward，andhebecameblownouttosea。Then，foranhour，heappearstohavetriedhighandlowforamorefavourablecurrent，butwithoutsuccess;and，feelingthedangerofhissituation，and，moreover，sightingnolessthanfivevesselsbeatingdowntheChannel，heboldlydescendedintheseaaboutamileasternofthem。Hemustforcertainhavebeenobservedbythesevessels;buteachandallheldontheircourse，and，thusdeserted，theaeronauthadnochoicebuttodischargeballast，and，quittingthewaves，toregainhislegitimateelement。Hisexperiencesatthisperiodofhisextraordinaryvoyagearebesttoldinhisownwords。"AtthetimeIdescendedthesunwasnearsettingAlreadytheshadowsofeveninghadcastaduskyhueoverthefaceoftheocean，andacrimsonglowpurpledthetopsofthewavesas，heavingintheeveningbreeze，theydiedawayindistance，orbrokeinfoamagainstthesidesofthevessels，andbeforeIrosefromtheseatheorbhadsunkbelowthehorizon，leavingonlythetwilightglimmertolightthevastexpansearoundme。Howgreat，therefore，wasmyastonishment，andhowincapableisexpressiontoconveyanadequateideaofmyfeelingswhen，risingtotheupperregionoftheair，thesun，whosepartingbeamsIhadalreadywitnessed，againburstonmyview，andencompassedmewiththefullblazeofday。Beneathmehungtheshadowsofeven，whilsttheclearbeamsofthesunglitteredonthefloatingvehiclewhichboremealongrapidlybeforethewind。"
Afterawhilehesightsthreemorevessels，whichsignifytheirwillingnesstostandby，whereuponhepromptlydescends，droppingbeneaththetworear—mostofthem。Fromthispointthenarrativeofthesinkingman，andthegallantattemptatrescue，willrivalanyliketaleofthesea。Forthewind，nowfastrising，caughtthehalfemptyballoonsosoonasthecartouchedthesea，andthevesselastern，thoughinfullpursuit，waswhollyunabletocomeup。Observingthis，Mr。Sadler，trustingmoretothevesselahead，droppedhisgrapplingironbywayofdrag，andshortlyafterwardstriedthefurtherexpedientoftakingoffhisclothesandattachingthemtotheiron。Thevessels，despitetheseendeavours，failingtooverhaulhim，heatlast，thoughwithreasonablereluctance，determinedtofurthercripplethecraftthatborehimsorapidlybyliberatingalargequantityofgas，adesperate，thoughnecessary，expedientwhichnearlycosthimhislife。
Forthecarnowinstantlysank，andtheunfortunateman，clutchingatthehoop，foundhecouldnotevensokeephimselfabovethewater，andwasreducedtoclinging，asalasthope，tothenetting。Theresultofthiscouldbeforeseen，forhewasfrequentlyplungedunderwaterbythemererollingoftheballoon。Coldandexertionsoontoldonhim，asheclungfranticallytothevalverope，andwhenhisstrengthfailedhimheactuallyriskedtheexpedientofpassinghisheadthroughthemeshesofthenet。Itwasobviousthatforavailhelpmustsooncome;yetthepursuingvessel，nowclose，appearedtoholdoff，fearingtobecomeentangledinthenet，andinthisdesperateextremity，faintingfromexhaustionandscarcelyabletocryaloud，Mr。Sadlerhimselfseemstohavedivinedthechanceyetleft;for，summoninghisfailingstrength，heshoutedtothesailorstoruntheirbowspritthroughhisballoon。Thiswasdone，andthedrowningmanwashauledonboardwiththelifescarcelyinhim。
Afittingsequeltotheaboveadventurefollowedfiveyearsafterwards。TheIrishSearemainedunconquered。Noballoonisthadasyetevercrosseditswaters。Whowouldattemptthefeatoncemore？Whomoreworthythanthehero’sownson，Mr。
WindhamSadler？
Thisaspiringaeronaut，emulatinghisfather’senterprisingspirit，chosethesamestartinggroundatDublin，andonthelongestdayof1817，whenwindsseemedfavourable，leftthePortoBellobarracksat1。20p。m。Hisendeavourwasto"tack"
hiscoursebysuchcurrentsasheshouldfind，inthemannerattemptedbyhisfather，andatstartingthegroundcurrentblewfavourablyfromtheW。S。W。He，however，allowedhisballoontorisetotoohighanaltitude，wherehemusthavebeentakenabackbyacontrarydrift;for，ondescendingagainthroughashowerofsnow，hefoundhimselfnofurtherthanBenHowth，asyetonlytenmilesonhislongjourney。Profitingbyhismistake，hethenceforward，byskilfulregulation，kepthisballoonwithinduelimits，andsuccessfullymaintainedadirectcourseacrossthesea，reachingaspotinWalesnotfarfromHolyheadanhourandahalfbeforesundown。Thecoursetakenwasabsolutelytheshortestpossible，beinglittlemorethanseventymiles，whichhetraversedinfivehours。
Fromthisperiodofourstory，noteworthyeventsinaeronauticalhistorygrowfewandfarbetween。Asamereexhibitionthenoveltyofaballoonascenthadmuchwornoff。
Noexperimentalistwasreadywithanynewdepartureintheart。
Nofreshadventurepresenteditselftothemindsofthemoreenterprisingspirits;and，whereasafewyearspreviouslyballooningexploitscrowdedintoeverysummerseasonandwerenotneglectedeveninwintermonths，thereisnowforawhilelittletochronicle，eitherabroadorinourowncountry。A
certainrevivalofthesensationalelementinballooningwasoccasionallywitnessed，andnotwithoutmishap，asinthecaseofMadameBlanchard，who，inthesummerof1819，ascendingatnightwithfireworksfromtheTivoliGardens，Paris，managedtosetfiretoherballoonandlostherlifeinherterrificfall。
HalfadozenyearslateraMr。，asalsoMrs。，Grahamfigurebeforethepublicinsomeboldspectacularascents。
Butthefameofanyaeronautofthatdatemustinevitablypalebeforethedawninglightshedbytwostarsofthefirstmagnitudethatwerearisingintwooppositepartsoftheworld——Mr。JohnWiseinAmerica，andMr。CharlesGreeninourowncountry。Thelatterofthese，whohasbeenwellstyledthe"FatherofEnglishAeronautics，"nowenteredonalongandhonouredcareerofsogreatimportanceandsuccessthatwemustreserveforhimaseparateandspecialchapter。
CHAPTERVI。CHARLESGREENANDTHENASSAUBALLOON。
Theballoon，whichhadgraduallybeendroppingoutoffavour，hadnowbeenvirtuallylaidaside，and，toallappearance，mighthavecontinuedso，when，asifbychanceconcurrenceofevents，therearrivedboththehourandthemantorestoreittotheworld，andtoinvestitwithanewpracticabilityandimportance。ThecoronationofGeorgetheFourthwasathand，andthisbecameabefittingoccasionfortheraregeniusmentionedattheendofthelastchapter，andnowinhisthirty—sixthyear，toputinpracticeanewmethodofballoonmanagementandinflation，theentirecreditofwhichmustbeaccordedtohimalone。
Fromitsveryintroductionandinceptionthegasballoon，anexpensiveandfragilestructureinitself，hadprovedatalltimesexceedinglycostlyinactualuse。Indeed，wefindthatatthedateatwhichwehavenowarrivedtheestimateforfillingaballoonof70，000cubicfeet——noextraordinarycapacity——withhydrogengaswasaboutL250。When，then，tothisgreatoutlaywasaddedthedifficultyanddelayofproducingasufficientsupplybywhatwasatbestaclumsyprocess，asalsothepositivefailureandconsequentdisappointmentwhichnotinfrequentlyensued，itiseasytounderstandhowthroughmanyyearsballoonascents，nolongeranovelty，hadbeguntoberegardedwithdistrust，andtheprofessionofaballoonistwasdoomedtobecomeunremunerative。
Asimplerandcheapermodeofinflationwasnotonlyadesideratum，butanabsolutenecessity。Thefulltruthofthismaybegatheredfromthefactthatwefindtherewerenotseldominstanceswheretwoorthreedaysofcontinuousandanxiouslabourwereexpendedingeneratingandpassinghydrogenintoaballoon，throughthefabricofwhichthesubtlegaswouldescapealmostasfastasitwasproduced。
Itwasatthisjuncture，then，thatCharlesGreenconceivedthehappyideaofsubstitutingforhydrogengastheordinaryhouseholdgas，whichatthistimewastobefoundreadytohandandinsufficientquantityinalltownsofanyconsequence;andbythedayofthecoronationallwasinreadinessforapublicexhibitionofthismethodofinflation，whichwascarriedoutwithcompletesuccess，thoughnotaltogetherwithoutunrehearsedandamusingincident，asmustbetold。
Theday，July18，wasoneofsummerheat，andGreenattheconclusionofhispreparations，fatiguedwithanxiouslabourandoppressedbythecrowdingofthepopulace，tookrefugewithinthecarofhisballoon，whichwasbythattimealreadyinflated，andonlyawaitingthegunsignalthatwastoannouncethemomentforitsdeparture。Toallowofhisgainingtherefreshmentofsomewhatpurerairhebeggedhisfriendswhowereholdingthecarofhisballooninrestrainttokeepitsuspendedatafewfeetfromtheearth，whileherestedhimselfwithin，and，thisbeingdone，itwouldappearthathefellintoadoze，fromwhichhedidnotawaketillhefoundthattheballoon，whichhadslippedfromhisfriends’hold，wasalreadyhighabovethecrowdandrequiringhispromptattention。Thiswas，however，bynomeansanuntowardaccident，andGreen’striumphwascomplete。Bythisoneventurealonethesuccessofthenewmethodwasentirelyassured。Thecostoftheinflationhadbeenreducedten—fold，thelabouranduncertaintyahundred—fold，and，overandaboveall，theconfidenceofthepublicwasrestored。Itislittlewonder，then，thatintheyearsthatnowfollowwefindtheballoonreturningtoallthefavourithadenjoyedinitspalmiestdays。ButGreenprovedhimselfsomethingmorethanapracticalballoonistofthefirstrank。Hebroughttotheaidofhisprofessionideaswhichwerematuredbyduethoughtandscientificallysound。Itistruehestillclungforawhiletotheantiquatednotionthatmechanicalmeanscould，withadvantage，beusedtocauseaballoontoascendordescend，ortoalteritsdirectioninatranquilatmosphere。Buthesawclearlythatthetruemethodofnavigatingaballoonshouldbebyastudyofuppercurrents，andthishewasabletoputtopracticalproofonamemorableoccasion，andinastrikingmanner，asweshallpresentlyrelate。
Helearnedthelessonearlyinhiscareerwhileacquiringfactsandexperience，unassisted，inanumberofsolitaryvoyagesmadefromdifferentpartsofthecountry。Amongtheseheiscarefultorecordanoccasionwhen，makingaday—lightascentfromBoston，Lincolnshire，hemaintainedaloftycourse，whichpromisedtotakehimdirecttoGrantham;but，presentlydescendingtoalowerlevel，andhisballoondivergingatanangleofsome45degrees，henowheadedforNewark。Thisexperiencehestoredaway。
AmonthlaterwefindhimmakinganightvoyagefromVauxhallGardens，destinedtobethesceneofmanymemorableascentsinthenearfuture;andonthisoccasionhegaveproofofhiscapabilityasacloseandintelligentobserver。ItwasaJulynight，near11p。m。，moonlessandcloudy，yettheearthwasvisible，andunderthesecircumstanceshissimplenarrativebecomesofscientificvalue。Heaccuratelydistinguishedthereflectivepropertiesofthefaceofthediversifiedcountryhetraversed。OverBatterseaandWandsworth——thiswasin1826——therewerewhitesheetsspreadovertheland，whichprovedtobecorncropsreadyforthesickle。Wherecropswerenotthegroundwasdarker，with，hereandthere，objectsabsolutelyblack——inotherwords，treesandhouses。Thenhementionstheriverinamemorandum，whichreadsstrangelytotheaeronautwhohasmadethesamenightvoyageintheselatterdays。Thestreamwascrossedinplaceswithrowsoflampsapparentlyrestingonthewater。Thesewerethelightedbridges;but，hereandthere，weredarkplanks，andthesetoowerebridges——atBatterseaandPutney——butwithoutalightuponthem！
Intheseandmanyothersimple，butgraphic，narrativesGreendrawshisownpicturesofNatureinherquietermoods。Buthewasnotwithoutearlyexperienceofherhorseplay，ahighlyinstructiverecordofwhichshouldnotbeomittedhere，andwhich，ascomingfromsocarefulandconscientiousanobserver，isbestgatheredfromhisownwords。TheascentwasfromNewbury，anditcanhavebeennomeanfeattofill，underordinarycircumstances，aballooncarryingtwopassengersandaconsiderableweightofballastatthesmallgas—holderwhichservedthetowneighty—fiveyearsago。Butthecircumstanceswerenotordinary，forthewindwasextremelysqually;atremendoushailandthunderstormblewup，andahurricaneswepttheballoonwithsuchforcethattwotonsweightofironandahundredmenscarcesufficedtoholditincheck。
Greenonthisoccasionhadindeedacompanion，whoseusefulnesshoweveratapinchmaybedoubtedwhenwelearnthathewasbothdeafanddumb。Therestofthenarrativerunsthus:
"Between4and5p。m。thecloudsdispersed，butthewindcontinuedtoragewithunabatedfurythewholeoftheevening。
At6p。m。IsteppedintothecarwithMr。Simmonsandgavetheword’Away！’Themomentthemachinewasdisencumberedofitsweightsitwastornbytheviolenceofthewindfromtheassistants，boundedoffwiththevelocityoflightninginasoutheasterlydirection，andinaveryshortspaceoftimeattainedanelevationoftwomiles。Atthisaltitudeweperceivedtwoimmensebodiesofcloudsoperatedonbycontrarycurrentsofairuntilatlengththeybecameunited，andatthatmomentmyearswereassailedbythemostawfulandlongestcontinuedpealofthunderIhaveeverheard。Thesecloudswereafullmilebeneathus，butperceivingotherstratafloatingatthesameelevationatwhichweweresailing，whichfromtheirappearanceIjudgedtobehighlychargedwithelectricity，I
considereditprudenttodischargetwentypoundsofballast，andwerosehalfamileaboveourformerelevation，whereI
consideredwewereperfectlysafeandbeyondtheirinfluence。
Iobserved，amongstotherphenomena，thatateverydischargeofthunderallthedetachedpillarsofcloudswithinthedistanceofamilearoundbecameattractedandappearedtoconcentratetheirforcetowardsthefirstbodyofcloudsalludedto，leavingtheatmosphereclearandcalmbeneathandaroundus。
"Withverytriflingvariationswecontinuedthesamecourseuntil7。15p。m。，whenwedescendedtowithin500feetoftheearth;but，perceivingfromthedisturbedsurfaceoftheriversandlakesthatastrongwindexistedneartheearth，weagainascendedandcontinuedourcoursetill7。30p。m。，whenafinaldescentwassafelyeffectedinameadowfieldintheparishofCrawleyinSurrey，situatedbetweenGuildfordandHorsham，andfifty—eightmilesfromNewbury。Thisstormyvoyagewasperformedinonehourandahalf。"
ItwasafterGreenhadfollowedhisprofessionforfifteenyearsthathewascalledupontoundertakethemanagementofanaerialventure，which，allthingsconsidered，hasneverbeensurpassedingenuineenterpriseanddaring。TheconceptionoftheprojectwasduetoMr。RobertHollond，andittookshapeinthisway。Thisgentleman，freshfromCambridge，possessedofalltheardourofearlymanhood，asalsoofadequatemeans，hadbeguntodevotehimselfwiththetruezealoftheenthusiasttothepursuitofballooning，findingdueopportunityforthisinhisfriendshipwithMr。Green，whoenjoyedthemanagementofthefineballoonmadeforascentsatthethenpopularVauxhallGardens。Intheautumnof1836theproprietorsofthisballoon，contemplatingmakinganexhibitionofanascentfromParis，andrequiringtheirsomewhatfragilepropertytobeconveyedtothatcity，Mr。Hollondboldlycameforwardandofferedtotransferitthither，and，asnearlyasthismightbepossible，bypassagethroughthesky。Theproposalwasaccepted，andMr。
Holland，inconjunctionwithGreen，setabouttheneedfulpreparations。These，aswillappear，wereonanextraordinaryscale，andnoblameistobeimputedonthataccount，asalittleconsiderationwillshow。FortheventureproposedwasnottobethatofmerelycrossingtheChannel，which，aswehaveseen，hadbeensuccessfullyeffectednolessthanfiftyyearsbefore。ThevoyageincontemplationwastobefromLondon;itwas，moreover，tobepursuedthroughalong，moonlesswinter’snight，andunderconditionsofwhichnolivingaeronauthadhadactualexperience。
Calculation，basedonasufficientknowledgeoffastuppercurrents，toldthattheircourse，erefinished，mightbeoneofalmostindefinitelength，anditisnottoomuchtosaythatnoone，withtheknowledgeofthatday，couldpredictwithinathousandmileswherethedawnofthenextdaymightfindthem。
Theequipment，therefore，wascommensuratewiththepossibletaskbeforethem。Tobeginwith，theylimitedtheirnumbertothreeinall——Mr。Hollond，aschiefandkeeperofthelog;Mr。
Green，asaeronaut;andanenthusiasticcolleague，Mr。MonckMason，asthechronicleroftheparty。Next，theyprovidedthemselveswithpassportstoallpartsoftheContinent;andthencamethefittingoutandvictuallingoftheaerialcraftitself，calculatedtocarrysome90，000cubicfeetofgas，andacounterpoiseofatonofballast，whichtooktheformpartlyofactualprovisionsinlargequantity，partlyofgearandapparatus，andfortherestofsandandalsolime，ofwhichmoreanon。Acrossthemiddleofthecarwasfixedabenchtoserveastable，andalsoasastageforthewindinginandoutofanenormoustrailropeathousandfeetlong，designedbyMr。
Greentomeetthespecialemergenciesofthevoyage。Atthebottomofthecarwasspreadalargecushiontoservethepurposesofrest。Whenallwasinreadinessunfitnessofweatherbaulkedthetravellersforsomedays，butMonday，the7thofNovember，wasjudgedafavourableday，sothattheinflationwasrapidlyproceededwith，andat1。30p。m。the"MonstreBalloon，"asitwasentitledinthe"IngoldsbyLegends，"lefttheearthonhereventfulandevermemorablevoyage。Theweatherwasfineandpromising，and，risingwithamoderatebreezefromtheN。W。，theybegantotraversethenorthernpartsofKent，whilelight，driftinguppercloudsgaveindicationofotherpossiblecurrents。Mr。Hollondwaspreciseinthedeterminationoftimesandofallreadingsandwelearnthatatexactly2。48p。m。theywerecrossingtheMedway，sixmileswestofRochester，whileat4。5p。m。theloftytowersofCanterburywerewellinview，twomilestotheeast，andherealittlefunctionwaswellcarriedout。Greenhadtwiceascendedfromthiscityunderpatronageoftheauthorities，andtheideaoccurredtothepartythatitwouldbeagracefulcomplimenttodropamessagetotheMayorastheypassed。Asuitablenote，therefore，quicklywritten，wasdismissedinaparachute，anditmaybementionedthatthis，asalsoasimilarmissiveaddressedlatertotheMayorofDover，weredulyreceivedandacknowledged。
Ataquarterpastfourtheysightedthesea，andhere，theairbeginningtogrowchill，theballoondroppedearthward，andforsomemilestheyskimmedtheground，disturbingthepartridges，scatteringtherooks，andkeepinguparunningconversationthewhilewithlabourersandpassersbelow。Inthistherewasexerciseofperfectlyproperaerialseamanship，suchasmoreoverpresentlyledtoanexhibitionoftruescience。Tosaveballastis，withaballoon，toprolonglife，andthismayoftenbestbedonebyflyinglow，whichdoubtlesswasGreen’spresentintention。Butsoonhistrainedeyesawthatthegroundcurrentwhichnowcarriedthemwasleadingthemastray。
Theyweretrendingtothenorthward，andsofaroutoftheircoursethattheywouldsoonmaketheNorthForeland，andsobecarriedoutovertheNorthSeafarfromtheirdesireddirection。ThereuponGreenattemptedtoputinpracticehistheory，alreadyspokenof，ofsteeringbyuppercurrents，andtheeventprovedhisjudgmentpeculiarlycorrect。"Nothing，"
wroteMr。MonckMason，"couldexceedthebeautyofthemanoeuvre，towhichtheballoonatonceresponded，regainingherduecourse，and，inamatterofafewminutesonly，bearingthevoyagersalmostverticallyoverthecastleofDoverintheexactlineforcrossingthestraitsbetweenthattownandCalais。"
Sofarallwaswell，andsuccesshadbeenextraordinary;butfromthismomenttheybecamefacedwithnewconditions，andwiththegravetroubleofuncertainty。Lightwasfailing，theseawasbeforethem，and——whatelsethenceforth？4。48p。m。wasrecordedasthemomentwhenthefirstlineofbreakingwaveswasseendirectlybelowthem，andthentheEnglishcoastlinebeganrapidlytofadeoutfromtheirview。But，ahead，theobscuritywasyetmoreintense，forclouds，bankeduplikeasolidwall，crownedalongitsfrowningheights，with"parapetsandturretsandbatteriesandbastions，"and，plungingintothisopposingbarrier，theywerequicklyburiedinblackness，losingatthesametimeovertheseaallsoundfromearthsoever。Soforashorthour’sspace，whenthesoundofwavesonceagainbrokeinuponthem，andimmediatelyafterwardsemergingfromthedensecloud（asea—fogmerely）theyfoundthemselvesimmediatelyoverthebrilliantlylightedtownofCalais。Seeingthis，thetravellersattemptedtosignalbyignitingandloweringaBengalLight，whichwasdirectlyfollowedbythebeatingofdrumsfrombelow。
Itaddsatouchofreality，aswellascheerfulness，tothenarrativetoreadthatatthisperiodoftheirlongjourneythetravellersapplythemselvestoafair，squaremeal，thefirstfortwelvehours，despitetheday’sexcitementandtoil。Wehaveanentryamongthestoresoftheballoonofwinebottlesandspiritflasks，butthereisnomentionofthesebeingrequisitionedatthisperiod。Thedemandseemsrathertohavebeenforcoffee——coffeehot;andthisbyanoveldevicewassoonprepared。Itgoeswithoutsayingthatafireorflameofanykind，exceptwithspecialprecautions，isinadmissableinaballoon;butacookingheat，sufficientforthepresentpurpose，wassuppliedfromthestoreoflime，aportionofwhich，beingplacedinasuitablycontrivedvesselandslakedquickly，procuredthedesiredbeverage。
Thismealnowindulgedinseemstohavebeenheartilyandhappilyenjoyed;andfromthispoint，forawhile，thenarrativebecomesthatofenthusiasticanddelightedtravellers。Inthegloombelow，forleaguesaround，theyregardedthescatteredfiresofawatchfulpopulation，withhereandtherethelightsoflargertowns，andthecontemplationbegotromanticreveries。"Weretheynotamidthevastsolitudesoftheskies，inthedeadofnight，unknownandunnoticed，secretlyandsilentlyreviewingkingdoms，exploringterritories，andsurveyingcitiesallclothedinthedarkmantleofmystery？"PresentlytheyidentifiedtheblazingcityofLiege，withtheluridlightsofextensiveoutlyingironworks，andthiswasthelastvisiblesigntheycaughtofearththatnight;save，atleast，whenoccasionalglimpsesoflightningmomentarilyanddimlyoutlinedtheworldintheabyssbelow。
Erelong，theymetwiththeirfirstdiscomfort，whichtheyseemtohaveregardedasamostseriousone，namely，theaccidentaldroppingoverboardoftheircherishedcoffee—boilingapparatus。
Withitslosstheirstoreoflimebecameuseless，saveasballast，andforthisitwasforthwithutiliseduntilnothingremainedbuttheemptylimebarrelitself，which，beingregardedasanobjectionableencumbrance，itwasdesirabletogetridof，wereitnotfortheriskinvolvedinrudelydroppingittoearth。Butthedifficultywasmet。Theypossessedasuitablesmallparachute，and，attachedtothis，thebarrelwasallowedtofloatearthward。
Ashoursadvanced，theblacknessofnightincreased，andtheirimpressionsappearsomewhatstrangetoanyonefamiliarwithordinarynighttravelinthesky。Mr。MonckMasoncomparestheirprogressthroughthedarknessto"cleavingtheirwaythroughaninterminablemassofblackmarble。"Then，presently，anunaccountableobjectpuzzlesandabsorbstheattentionofallthepartyforalongperiod。Theyweregazingopen—mouthedatalongnarrowavenueoffeeblelight，which，thoughapparentlybelongingtoearth，wastoolongandregularforariver，andtoobroadforacanalorroad，anditwasonlyaftermanyfutileimaginingsthattheydiscoveredtheyweresimplylookingatastayropeoftheballoonhangingfaroutovertheside。
Somewhatlaterstill，therewasamoreseriousclaimupontheimagination。Itwashalf—pastthreeinthemorning，andtheballoon，which，toescapefromtoolowanaltitude，hadbeenliberallylightened，hadnowathighspeedmountedtoavastheight。Andthen，amidtheblackdarknessanddeadsilenceofthatappallingregion，suddenlyoverheadcamethesoundofanexplosion，followedbytheviolentrustlingofthesilk，whilethecarjerkedviolently，asthoughsuddenlydetachedfromitshold。Thiswastheidea，leadingtothebeliefthattheballoonhadsuddenlyexploded，andthattheywerefallingheadlongtoearth。Theirsuspense，however，cannothavebeenlong，andtheincidentwasintelligibleenough，beingduetothesuddenyieldingofstiffenednetandsilkunderrapidexpansioncausedbytheirspeedyandloftyascent。
Thechiefincidentsofthenightwerenowover，untilthedawnarrivedandbegantorevealastrangeland，withlargetractsofsnow，givingplace，asthelightstrengthened，tovastforests。TotheirmindsthesesuggestedtheplainsofPoland，ifnotthesteppesofRussia，and，fearingthatthecountryfurtherforwardmightprovemoreinhospitable，theydecidedtocometoearthasspeedilyaspossible。This，inspiteofdifficultlanding，theyeffectedaboutthehourthatthewakingpopulationweremovingabroad，andthen，andnottillthen，theylearnedthelandoftheirhaven——theheartoftheGermanforests。Fivehundredmileshadbeencoveredineighteenhoursfromstarttofinish！
CHAPTERVII。CHARLESGREEN——FURTHERADVENTURES。
Allhistoryisliabletorepeatitself，andthatofaeronauticsformsnoexceptiontotherule。ThesecondyearaftertheinventionoftheballoonthefamousM。Blanchard，ascendingfromFrankfort，landednearWeilburg，and，incommemorationoftheevent，theflagheborewasdepositedamongthearchivesintheducalpalaceofthattown。Fifty—oneyearspassedbywhen，outsidethesamecity，ayetmorefamousballooneffecteditslanding，andwithdueceremonyitsflagispresentlylaidbesidethatofBlanchardinthesameducalpalace。Theballoonofthe"ImmortalThree，"whosesplendidvoyagehasjustbeenrecounted，willeverbeknownbythetitleoftheGreatNassauBalloon，buttheneighbourhoodofitslandingwasthatofthetownofWeilburg，intheDuchyofNassau，whitherthepartybetookthemselves，andwhere，duringmanydays，theywereentertainedwithextravaganthospitalityandhonouruntilbusinessrecalledMr。Hollondhome。
Greenhadnowmadeupwardsoftwohundredascents，and，thoughhelivedtomakeathousand，itwasimpossiblethathecouldevereclipsethislastrecord。ItistruethatthesameNassauballoon，underhisguidance，mademanyothermostmemorablevoyages，someofwhichitwillbenecessarytodwellon。But，topreserveabetterchronology，wemustfirst，withoutfurtherdigression，approachaneventwhichfillsadarkpageinourannals;and，insodoing，wehavetotransferourattentionfromtheballoonitselftoitsaccessory，theparachute。
Twenty—threeyearsbeforeourpresentdate，thatistosayin1814，Mr。CockingdeliveredhisviewsastotheproperformoftheparachutebeforetheSocietyofArts，who，asamarkofapproval，awardedhimamedal。Thisparachute，however，havingnevertakenpracticalshape，andonlyexisting，figurativelyspeaking，intheclouds，seemedunlikelytofinditswaythereinrealityuntilthesuccessoftheNassauadventurestirreditsinventortostrenuouseffortstogiveitanactualtrial。
ThusitcameaboutthatheobtainedMr。Green’sco—operationintheattempthenowundertook，and，thoughthisendeddisastrously，forMr。Cocking，thegreatprofessionalaeronautcaninnowaysoeverbeblamedforthetragicevent。
ThedateofthetrialwasinJuly，1837。Mr。Cocking’sparachutewastotallydifferentinprinciplefromthatformwhich，aswehaveseen，hadmetwithafairmeasureofsuccessatthehandsofearlyexperimenters;andontheeveofitstrialitwasstronglydenouncedandcondemnedintheLondonPressbythecriticwhomwehaverecentlysofreelyquoted，Mr。
MonckMason。
Thisablereasonerandaeronautpointedoutthatthecontrivanceabouttobetestedaimedatobviatingtwoprincipaldrawbackswhichtheparachutehaduptothattimepresented，namely（1）thelengthoftimewhichelapsesbeforeitbecomessufficientlyexpanded，and（2）theoscillatorymovementwhichaccompaniesthedescent。Inthisnewendeavourtheinventorcausedhismachinetobefixedrigidlyopen，andtoassumetheshapeofaninvertedcone。Inotherwords，insteadofitsbeinglikeanumbrellaopened，itratherresembledanumbrellablowninsideout。Taking，then，theshapeanddimensionsofMr。Cocking’sstructureasabasisformathematicalcalculation，asalsoitsweight，whichforrequiredstrengthheputat500lbs。Mr。MonckMasonestimatedthattheadventurerandhismachinemustattaininfallingavelocityofsometwelvemilesanhour。Infact，hispositivepredictionwasthatoneoftwoeventsmustinevitablytakeplace。"Eithertheparachutewouldcometothegroundwithaforceincompatiblewiththesafetyoftheindividual，orshoulditbeattemptedtomakeitsufficientlylighttoresistthisconclusion，itmustgivewaybeneaththeforceswhichwilldevelopinthedescent。"
Thisemphaticwordofwarningwasneglected，andtheresultoftheterribleexperimentcanbestbegatheredfromtwoprincipalsources。First，thatofaspecialreporterwritingfromterra—firma，and，secondly，thatofMr。Greenhimself，whogiveshisownobservationsasmadefromtheballooninwhichhetooktheunfortunatemanandhisinventionintothesky。