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Wonderful Balloon Ascents; Or, The Conquest of the Skies
·
Fulgence Marion
80
the
rocks
on
the
other
side,
against
which
the
waves
dashed,
offered
a
prospect
that
was
rather
trying.
They
had
already
passed
one-third
of
the
distance
across
the
Channel
when
the
balloon
descended
for
the
second
time,
and
they
threw
over
the
last
of
their
ballast;
and
that
not
sufficing,
they
threw
over
some
books,
and
found
themselves
rising
again.
After
having
got
more
than
half
way,
they
found
to
their
dismay,
from
the
rising
of
the
barometer,
that
they
were
again
descending,
and
the
remainder
of
their
books
were
thrown
over.
At
twenty-five
minutes
past
two
o’clock
they
had
passed
three-quarters
of
their
journey,
and
they
perceived
ahead
the
inviting
coasts
of
France.
But,
in
consequence
either
of
the
loss
or
the
condensation
of
the
inflammable
gas,
they
found
themselves
once
more
descending.
They
then
threw
over
their
provisions,
the
wings
of
the
car,
and
other
objects.
“We
were
obliged,”
says
Jeffries,
“to
throw
out
the
only
bottle
we
had,
which
fell
on
the
water
with
a
loud
sound,
and
sent
up
spray
like
smoke.”
They
were
now
near
the
water
themselves,
and
certain
death
seemed
to
stare
them
in
the
face.
It
is
said
that
at
this
critical
moment
Jeffries
offered
to
throw
himself
into
the
sea,
in
order
to
save
the
life
of
his
companion.
“We
are
lost,
both
of
us,”
said
he;
“and
if
you
believe
that
it
will
save
you
to
be
lightened
of
my
weight,
I
am
willing
to
sacrifice
my
life.”
This
story
has
certainly
the
appearance
of
romance,
and
belief
in
it
is
not
positively
demanded.
One
desperate
resource
only
remained--they
could
detach
the
car
and
hang
on
themselves
to
the
ropes
of
the
balloon.
They
were
preparing
to
carry
out
this
idea,
when
they
imagined
they
felt
themselves
beginning
to
ascend
again.
It
was
indeed
so.
The
balloon
mounted
once
more;
they
were
only
four
miles
from
the
coast
of
France,
and
their
progress
through
the
air
was
rapid.
All
fear
was
now
banished.
Their
exciting
situation,
and
the
idea
that
they
were
the
first
who
had
ever
traversed
the
Channel
in
such
a
manner,
rendered
them
careless
about
the
want
of
certain
articles
of
dress
which
they
had
discarded.
At
three
o’clock
they
passed
over
the
shore
half-way
between
Cape
Blanc
and
Calais.
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