Havingdescended，asIsaidbefore，toaboutonehundredfeetfromthesurfaceoftheearth，thelittleoldgentlemanwassuddenlyseizedwithafitoftrepidation，andappeareddisinclinedtomakeanynearerapproachtoterrafirma。Throwingout，therefore，aquantityofsandfromacanvasbag，which，heliftedwithgreatdifficulty，hebecamestationaryinaninstant。Hethenproceeded，inahurriedandagitatedmanner，toextractfromaside-pocketinhissurtoutalargemoroccopocket-book。Thishepoisedsuspiciouslyinhishand，theneyeditwithanairofextremesurprise，andwasevidentlyastonishedatitsweight。Heatlengthopenedit，anddrawingtherefromahugelettersealedwithredsealing-waxandtiedcarefullywithredtape，letitfallpreciselyatthefeetoftheburgomaster，SuperbusVonUnderduk。HisExcellencystoopedtotakeitup。Buttheaeronaut，stillgreatlydiscomposed，andhavingapparentlynofartherbusinesstodetainhiminRotterdam，beganatthismomenttomakebusypreparationsfordeparture；anditbeingnecessarytodischargeaportionofballasttoenablehimtoreascend，thehalfdozenbagswhichhethrewout，oneafteranother，withouttakingthetroubletoemptytheircontents，tumbled，everyoneofthem，mostunfortunatelyuponthebackoftheburgomaster，androlledhimoverandovernolessthanone-and-twentytimes，inthefaceofeverymaninRotterdam。Itisnottobesupposed，however，thatthegreatUnderduksufferedthisimpertinenceonthepartofthelittleoldmantopassoffwithimpunity。Itissaid，onthecontrary，thatduringeachandeveryoneofhisone-andtwentycircumvolutionsheemittednolessthanone-and-twentydistinctandfuriouswhiffsfromhispipe，towhichheheldfastthewholetimewithallhismight，andtowhichheintendsholdingfastuntilthedayofhisdeath。
　　Inthemeantimetheballoonaroselikealark，and，soaringfarawayabovethecity，atlengthdriftedquietlybehindacloudsimilartothatfromwhichithadsooddlyemerged，andwasthuslostforevertothewonderingeyesofthegoodcitieznsofRotterdam。Allattentionwasnowdirectedtotheletter，thedescentofwhich，andtheconsequencesattendingthereupon，hadprovedsofatallysubversiveofbothpersonandpersonaldignitytohisExcellency，theillustriousBurgomasterMynheerSuperbusVonUnderduk。Thatfunctionary，however，hadnotfailed，duringhiscircumgyratorymovements，tobestowathoughtupontheimportantsubjectofsecuringthepacketinquestion，whichwasseen，uponinspection，tohavefallenintothemostproperhands，beingactuallyaddressedtohimselfandProfessorRub-a-dub，intheirofficialcapacitiesofPresidentandVice-PresidentoftheRotterdamCollegeofAstronomy。Itwasaccordinglyopenedbythosedignitariesuponthespot，andfoundtocontainthefollowingextraordinary，andindeedveryserious，communications。
　　TotheirExcellenciesVonUnderdukandRub-a-dub，PresidentandVice-PresidentoftheStates’CollegeofAstronomers，inthecityofRotterdam。
　　“YourExcellenciesmayperhapsbeabletorememberanhumbleartizan，bynameHansPfaall，andbyoccupationamenderofbellows，who，withthreeothers，disappearedfromRotterdam，aboutfiveyearsago，inamannerwhichmusthavebeenconsideredbyallpartiesatoncesudden，andextremelyunaccountable。If，however，itsopleaseyourExcellencies，I，thewriterofthiscommunication，amtheidenticalHansPfaallhimself。Itiswellknowntomostofmyfellowcitizens，thatfortheperiodoffortyyearsIcontinuedtooccupythelittlesquarebrickbuilding，attheheadofthealleycalledSauerkraut，inwhichIresidedatthetimeofmydisappearance。Myancestorshavealsoresidedthereintimeoutofmindthey，aswellasmyself，steadilyfollowingtherespectableandindeedlucrativeprofessionofmendingofbellows。For，tospeakthetruth，untiloflateyears，thattheheadsofallthepeoplehavebeensetagogwithpolitics，nobetterbusinessthanmyowncouldanhonestcitizenofRotterdameitherdesireordeserve。Creditwasgood，employmentwasneverwanting，andonallhandstherewasnolackofeithermoneyorgood-will。But，asIwassaying，wesoonbegantofeeltheeffectsoflibertyandlongspeeches，andradicalism，andallthatsortofthing。Peoplewhowereformerly，theverybestcustomersintheworld，hadnownotamomentoftimetothinkofusatall。Theyhad，sotheysaid，asmuchastheycoulddotoreadabouttherevolutions，andkeepupwiththemarchofintellectandthespiritoftheage。Ifafirewantedfanning，itcouldreadilybefannedwithanewspaper，andasthegovernmentgrewweaker，Ihavenodoubtthatleatherandironacquireddurabilityinproportion，for，inaveryshorttime，therewasnotapairofbellowsinallRotterdamthateverstoodinneedofastitchorrequiredtheassistanceofahammer。Thiswasastateofthingsnottobeendured。Isoongrewaspoorasarat，and，havingawifeandchildrentoprovidefor，myburdensatlengthbecameintolerable，andIspenthourafterhourinreflectinguponthemostconvenientmethodofputtinganendtomylife。Duns，inthemeantime，leftmelittleleisureforcontemplation。Myhousewasliterallybesiegedfrommorningtillnight，sothatIbegantorave，andfoam，andfretlikeacagedtigeragainstthebarsofhisenclosure。Therewerethreefellowsinparticularwhoworriedmebeyondendurance，keepingwatchcontinuallyaboutmydoor，andthreateningmewiththelaw。UponthesethreeIinternallyvowedthebitterestrevenge，ifeverIshouldbesohappyastogetthemwithinmyclutches；andIbelievenothingintheworldbutthepleasureofthisanticipationpreventedmefromputtingmyplanofsuicideintoimmediateexecution，byblowingmybrainsoutwithablunderbuss。I
　　thoughtitbest，however，todissemblemywrath，andtotreatthemwithpromisesandfairwords，until，bysomegoodturnoffate，anopportunityofvengeanceshouldbeaffordedme。
　　“Oneday，havinggivenmycreditorstheslip，andfeelingmorethanusuallydejected，Icontinuedforalongtimetowanderaboutthemostobscurestreetswithoutobjectwhatever，untilatlengthI
　　chancedtostumbleagainstthecornerofabookseller’sstall。Seeingachaircloseathand，fortheuseofcustomers，Ithrewmyselfdoggedlyintoit，and，hardlyknowingwhy，openedthepagesofthefirstvolumewhichcamewithinmyreach。ItprovedtobeasmallpamphlettreatiseonSpeculativeAstronomy，writteneitherbyProfessorEnckeofBerlinorbyaFrenchmanofsomewhatsimilarname。
　　Ihadsomelittletinctureofinformationonmattersofthisnature，andsoonbecamemoreandmoreabsorbedinthecontentsofthebook，readingitactuallythroughtwicebeforeIawoketoarecollectionofwhatwaspassingaroundme。Bythistimeitbegantogrowdark，andI
　　directedmystepstowardhome。Butthetreatisehadmadeanindelibleimpressiononmymind，and，asIsaunteredalongtheduskystreets，I
　　revolvedcarefullyoverinmymemorythewildandsometimesunintelligiblereasoningsofthewriter。Therearesomeparticularpassageswhichaffectedmyimaginationinapowerfulandextraordinarymanner。ThelongerImeditateduponthesethemoreintensegrewtheinterestwhichhadbeenexcitedwithinme。Thelimitednatureofmyeducationingeneral，andmoreespeciallymyignoranceonsubjectsconnectedwithnaturalphilosophy，sofarfromrenderingmediffidentofmyownabilitytocomprehendwhatIhadread，orinducingmetomistrustthemanyvaguenotionswhichhadariseninconsequence，merelyservedasafartherstimulustoimagination；andIwasvainenough，orperhapsreasonableenough，todoubtwhetherthosecrudeideaswhich，arisinginill-regulatedminds，havealltheappearance，maynotoftenineffectpossessalltheforce，thereality，andotherinherentproperties，ofinstinctorintuition；whether，toproceedastepfarther，profundityitselfmightnot，inmattersofapurelyspeculativenature，bedetectedasalegitimatesourceoffalsityanderror。Inotherwords，Ibelieved，andstilldobelieve，thattruth，isfrequentlyofitsownessence，superficial，andthat，inmanycases，thedepthliesmoreintheabysseswhereweseekher，thanintheactualsituationswhereinshemaybefound。Natureherselfseemedtoaffordmecorroborationoftheseideas。InthecontemplationoftheheavenlybodiesitstruckmeforciblythatIcouldnotdistinguishastarwithnearlyasmuchprecision，whenIgazedonitwithearnest，directandundeviatingattention，aswhenIsufferedmyeyeonlytoglanceinitsvicinityalone。Iwasnot，ofcourse，atthattimeawarethatthisapparentparadoxwasoccasionedbythecenterofthevisualareabeinglesssusceptibleoffeebleimpressionsoflightthantheexteriorportionsoftheretina。Thisknowledge，andsomeofanotherkind，cameafterwardsinthecourseofaneventfulfiveyears，duringwhichI
　　havedroppedtheprejudicesofmyformerhumblesituationinlife，andforgottenthebellows-menderinfardifferentoccupations。ButattheepochofwhichIspeak，theanalogywhichacasualobservationofastarofferedtotheconclusionsIhadalreadydrawn，struckmewiththeforceofpositiveconformation，andIthenfinallymadeupmymindtothecoursewhichIafterwardspursued。
　　“ItwaslatewhenIreachedhome，andIwentimmediatelytobed。Mymind，however，wastoomuchoccupiedtosleep，andIlaythewholenightburiedinmeditation。Arisingearlyinthemorning，andcontrivingagaintoescapethevigilanceofmycreditors，Irepairedeagerlytothebookseller’sstall，andlaidoutwhatlittlereadymoneyIpossessed，inthepurchaseofsomevolumesofMechanicsandPracticalAstronomy。Havingarrivedathomesafelywiththese，I
　　devotedeverysparemomenttotheirperusal，andsoonmadesuchproficiencyinstudiesofthisnatureasIthoughtsufficientfortheexecutionofmyplan。Intheintervalsofthisperiod，Imadeeveryendeavortoconciliatethethreecreditorswhohadgivenmesomuchannoyance。InthisIfinallysucceededpartlybysellingenoughofmyhouseholdfurnituretosatisfyamoietyoftheirclaim，andpartlybyapromiseofpayingthebalanceuponcompletionofalittleprojectwhichItoldthemIhadinview，andforassistanceinwhichIsolicitedtheirservices。BythesemeansfortheywereignorantmenIfoundlittledifficultyingainingthemovertomypurpose。
　　“Mattersbeingthusarranged，Icontrived，bytheaidofmywifeandwiththegreatestsecrecyandcaution，todisposeofwhatpropertyI
　　hadremaining，andtoborrow，insmallsums，undervariouspretences，andwithoutpayinganyattentiontomyfuturemeansofrepayment，noinconsiderablequantityofreadymoney。WiththemeansthusaccruingIproceededtoprocureatintervals，cambricmuslin，veryfine，inpiecesoftwelveyardseach；twine；alotofthevarnishofcaoutchouc；alargeanddeepbasketofwicker-work，madetoorder；
　　andseveralotherarticlesnecessaryintheconstructionandequipmentofaballoonofextraordinarydimensions。ThisIdirectedmywifetomakeupassoonaspossible，andgaveherallrequisiteinformationastotheparticularmethodofproceeding。InthemeantimeIworkedupthetwineintoanet-workofsufficientdimensions；riggeditwithahoopandthenecessarycords；boughtaquadrant，acompass，aspy-glass，acommonbarometerwithsomeimportantmodifications，andtwoastronomicalinstrumentsnotsogenerallyknown。Ithentookopportunitiesofconveyingbynight，toaretiredsituationeastofRotterdam，fiveiron-boundcasks，tocontainaboutfiftygallonseach，andoneofalargersize；sixtinnedwaretubes，threeinchesindiameter，properlyshaped，andtenfeetinlength；aquantityofaparticularmetallicsubstance，orsemi-metal，whichIshallnotname，andadozendemijohnsofaverycommonacid。Thegastobeformedfromtheselattermaterialsisagasneveryetgeneratedbyanyotherpersonthanmyselforatleastneverappliedtoanysimilarpurpose。ThesecretIwouldmakenodifficultyindisclosing，butthatitofrightbelongstoacitizenofNantz，inFrance，bywhomitwasconditionallycommunicatedtomyself。Thesameindividualsubmittedtome，withoutbeingatallawareofmyintentions，amethodofconstructingballoonsfromthemembraneofacertainanimal，throughwhichsubstanceanyescapeofgaswasnearlyanimpossibility。Ifoundit，however，altogethertooexpensive，andwasnotsure，uponthewhole，whethercambricmuslinwithacoatingofgumcaoutchouc，wasnotequallyasgood。Imentionthiscircumstance，becauseIthinkitprobablethathereaftertheindividualinquestionmayattemptaballoonascensionwiththenovelgasandmaterialIhavespokenof，andIdonotwishtodeprivehimofthehonorofaverysingularinvention。
　　“OnthespotwhichIintendedeachofthesmallercaskstooccupyrespectivelyduringtheinflationoftheballoon，Iprivatelydugaholetwofeetdeep；theholesforminginthismanneracircletwenty-fivefeetindiameter。Inthecentreofthiscircle，beingthestationdesignedforthelargecask，Ialsodugaholethreefeetindepth。Ineachofthefivesmallerholes，Idepositedacanistercontainingfiftypounds，andinthelargeroneakegholdingonehundredandfiftypounds，ofcannonpowder。ThesethekegandcanistersIconnectedinapropermannerwithcoveredtrains；andhavingletintooneofthecanisterstheendofaboutfourfeetofslowmatch，Icoveredupthehole，andplacedthecaskoverit，leavingtheotherendofthematchprotrudingaboutaninch，andbarelyvisiblebeyondthecask。Ithenfilleduptheremainingholes，andplacedthebarrelsoverthemintheirdestinedsituation。
　　“Besidesthearticlesaboveenumerated，Iconveyedtothedepot，andtheresecreted，oneofM。Grimm’simprovementsupontheapparatusforcondensationoftheatmosphericair。Ifoundthismachine，however，torequireconsiderablealterationbeforeitcouldbeadaptedtothepurposestowhichIintendedmakingitapplicable。But，withseverelaborandunremittingperseverance，Iatlengthmetwithentiresuccessinallmypreparations。Myballoonwassooncompleted。Itwouldcontainmorethanfortythousandcubicfeetofgas；wouldtakemeupeasily，Icalculated，withallmyimplements，and，ifImanagedrightly，withonehundredandseventy-fivepoundsofballastintothebargain。Ithadreceivedthreecoatsofvarnish，andIfoundthecambricmuslintoanswerallthepurposesofsilkitself，quiteasstrongandagooddeallessexpensive。