the works of edgar allan poe-1-第14章
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distance above the surface。 Should the kittens be found to suffer
uneasiness in an equal degree with their mother； I must consider my
theory in fault； but a failure to do so I should look upon as a
strong confirmation of my idea。
〃By eight o'clock I had actually attained an elevation of seventeen
miles above the surface of the earth。 Thus it seemed to me evident
that my rate of ascent was not only on the increase； but that the
progression would have been apparent in a slight degree even had I
not discharged the ballast which I did。 The pains in my head and ears
returned； at intervals； with violence； and I still continued to bleed
occasionally at the nose； but； upon the whole； I suffered much less
than might have been expected。 I breathed； however； at every moment；
with more and more difficulty； and each inhalation was attended with
a troublesome spasmodic action of the chest。 I now unpacked the
condensing apparatus； and got it ready for immediate use。
〃The view of the earth； at this period of my ascension； was beautiful
indeed。 To the westward； the northward； and the southward； as far as
I could see； lay a boundless sheet of apparently unruffled ocean；
which every moment gained a deeper and a deeper tint of blue and
began already to assume a slight appearance of convexity。 At a vast
distance to the eastward； although perfectly discernible； extended
the islands of Great Britain； the entire Atlantic coasts of France
and Spain； with a small portion of the northern part of the continent
of Africa。 Of individual edifices not a trace could be discovered；
and the proudest cities of mankind had utterly faded away from the
face of the earth。 From the rock of Gibraltar； now dwindled into a
dim speck； the dark Mediterranean sea； dotted with shining islands as
the heaven is dotted with stars； spread itself out to the eastward as
far as my vision extended； until its entire mass of waters seemed at
length to tumble headlong over the abyss of the horizon； and I found
myself listening on tiptoe for the echoes of the mighty cataract。
Overhead； the sky was of a jetty black； and the stars were
brilliantly visible。
〃The pigeons about this time seeming to undergo much suffering； I
determined upon giving them their liberty。 I first untied one of
them； a beautiful gray…mottled pigeon； and placed him upon the rim of
the wicker…work。 He appeared extremely uneasy； looking anxiously
around him； fluttering his wings； and making a loud cooing noise； but
could not be persuaded to trust himself from off the car。 I took him
up at last； and threw him to about half a dozen yards from the
balloon。 He made； however； no attempt to descend as I had expected；
but struggled with great vehemence to get back； uttering at the same
time very shrill and piercing cries。 He at length succeeded in
regaining his former station on the rim； but had hardly done so when
his head dropped upon his breast； and be fell dead within the car。
The other one did not prove so unfortunate。 To prevent his following
the example of his companion； and accomplishing a return； I threw him
downward with all my force； and was pleased to find him continue his
descent； with great velocity； making use of his wings with ease； and
in a perfectly natural manner。 In a very short time he was out of
sight； and I have no doubt he reached home in safety。 Puss； who
seemed in a great measure recovered from her illness； now made a
hearty meal of the dead bird and then went to sleep with much
apparent satisfaction。 Her kittens were quite lively； and so far
evinced not the slightest sign of any uneasiness whatever。
〃At a quarter…past eight； being no longer able to draw breath without
the most intolerable pain； I proceeded forthwith to adjust around the
car the apparatus belonging to the condenser。 This apparatus will
require some little explanation； and your Excellencies will please to
bear in mind that my object； in the first place； was to surround
myself and cat entirely with a barricade against the highly rarefied
atmosphere in which I was existing； with the intention of introducing
within this barricade； by means of my condenser； a quantity of this
same atmosphere sufficiently condensed for the purposes of
respiration。 With this object in view I had prepared a very strong
perfectly air…tight； but flexible gum…elastic bag。 In this bag； which
was of sufficient dimensions； the entire car was in a manner placed。
That is to say； it （the bag） was drawn over the whole bottom of the
car； up its sides； and so on； along the outside of the ropes； to the
upper rim or hoop where the net…work is attached。 Having pulled the
bag up in this way； and formed a complete enclosure on all sides； and
at botttom； it was now necessary to fasten up its top or mouth； by
passing its material over the hoop of the net…work in other words；
between the net…work and the hoop。 But if the net…work were separated
from the hoop to admit this passage； what was to sustain the car in
the meantime？ Now the net…work was not permanently fastened to the
hoop； but attached by a series of running loops or nooses。 I
therefore undid only a few of these loops at one time； leaving the
car suspended by the remainder。 Having thus inserted a portion of the
cloth forming the upper part of the bag； I refastened the loops
not to the hoop； for that would have been impossible； since the cloth
now intervened but to a series of large buttons； affixed to the
cloth itself； about three feet below the mouth of the bag； the
intervals between the buttons having been made to correspond to the
intervals between the loops。 This done； a few more of the loops were
unfastened from the rim； a farther portion of the cloth introduced；
and the disengaged loops then connected with their proper buttons。 In
this way it was possible to insert the whole upper part of the bag
between the net…work and the hoop。 It is evident that the hoop would
now drop down within the car； while the whole weight of the car
itself； with all its contents； would be held up merely by the
strength of the buttons。 This； at first sight； would seem an
inadequate dependence； but it was by no means so； for the buttons
were not only very strong in themselves； but so close together that a
very slight portion of the whole weight was supported by any one of
them。 Indeed； had the car and contents been three times heavier than
they were； I should not have been at all uneasy。 I now raised up the
hoop again within the covering of gum…elastic； and propped it at
nearly its former height by means of three light poles prepared for
the occasion。 This was done； of course； to keep the bag distended at
the top； and to preserve the lower part of the net…work in its proper
situation。 All that now remained was to fasten up the mouth of the
enclosure； and this was readily accomplished by gathering the folds
of the material together； and twisting them up very tightly on the
inside by means of a kind of stationary tourniquet。
〃In the sides of the covering thus adjusted round the car； had been
inserted three circular panes of thick but clear glass； through which
I could see without difficulty around me in every horizontal
direction。 In that portion of the cloth forming the bottom； was
likewise； a fourth window； of the same kind； and corresponding with a
small aperture in the floor of the car itself。 This enabled me to see
perpendicularly down； but having found it impossible to place any
similar contrivance overhead； on account of the peculiar manner of
closing up the opening there； and the consequent wrinkles in the
cloth； I could expect to see no objects situated directly in my
zenith。 This； of course； was a matter of little consequence； for had
I even been able to place a window at top； the balloon itself would
have prevented my making any use of it。
〃About a foot below one of the side windows was a circular opening；
eight inches in diameter； and fitted with a brass rim adapted in its
inner edge to the windings of a screw。 In this rim was screwed the
large tube of the condenser； the body of the mac
