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128
Wonderful Balloon Ascents; Or, The Conquest of the Skies
·
Fulgence Marion
100
aerial
monster,
and
wished
the
aeronaut
“Bon
voyage”
at
starting.
The
passengers
endeavoured
to
pass
the
night
as
comfortably
as
possible,
having
first
instituted
a
four
hours’
watch,
as
on
board
ship.
The
aerial
vessel
glided
rapidly
through
the
air.
“We
repeatedly,”
said
Nadar,
“passed
over
some
manufacturing
centre,
whose
lights
were
not
yet
extinguished.
I
either
hailed
them
with
my
speaking-trumpet
or
rang
our
two
bells.
Sometimes
we
received
a
reply
from
below,
in
the
shape
of
a
shout,
for,
although
we
still
had
no
moon,
the
night
was
occasionally
clear
enough
for
people
to
distinguish
us;
and
sometimes
we
heard
a
peal
of
laughter
from
out
of
the
atmosphere
in
which
we
were
travelling.
It
was
another
party
of
aeronauts
in
a
smaller
balloon,
who
left
at
the
same
time
as
we
did,
and
who
would
persist
in
keeping
the
‘Geant’
company.
We
are
passing
over
a
small
town;
we
hear
the
usual
shouting
and
the
report
of
a
gun.
Our
first
thoughts
are--Was
it
loaded
with
shot
or
ball?
The
inhuman
brute
who
fired
will
say,
‘Certainly
not;’
but
as
balloons
have
often
been
damaged
in
this
way,
we
may
be
confident
there
was
more
than
powder
in
this
one.
It
would
be
satisfactory,
at
any
rate,
if
the
name
of
the
person
could
be
ascertained
who
favoured
us
with
this
welcome.
But
it
is
rather
late
to
make
inquiries
on
this
subject.
It
was
between
a
quarter
and
half-past
nine
o’clock
when
this
occurred.
‘The
sea!’
cried
Jules;
‘look
at
the
revolving
lights
of
the
lighthouses.
There:
one
has
just
disappeared:
it
will
flash
out
again
in
a
moment!’
But
what
is
this?
Before
us,
as
far
as
our
eyes
can
reach,
we
distinguish
faint
lights,
which
in
this
case
are
neither
lamps
nor
torches.
As
we
continue
to
draw
nearer
we
get
a
better
view
of
these
numerous,
violent,
and
smoking
furnaces.
Loud
and
ringing
sounds
strike
on
our
ear
at
the
same
time.
Am
I
right
in
my
conjectures?
Is
this
not
that
splendid
country
I
love
more
than
ever
now?
It
must
be
Erquelines!
And
the
dignified
Custom-house
official,
had
it
been
possible,
would
have
added
thereto
‘Belgium!’
“We
still
continue
to
pass
over
fires,
forges,
tall
chimneys,
and
coal
mines
at
frequent
intervals.
Not
long
after
we
distinguish
a
large
town
on
our
right
hand,
which,
by
its
size
and
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