the works of edgar allan poe-1-第15章
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inner edge to the windings of a screw。 In this rim was screwed the
large tube of the condenser； the body of the machine being； of
course； within the chamber of gum…elastic。 Through this tube a
quantity of the rare atmosphere circumjacent being drawn by means of
a vacuum created in the body of the machine； was thence discharged；
in a state of condensation； to mingle with the thin air already in
the chamber。 This operation being repeated several times； at length
filled the chamber with atmosphere proper for all the purposes of
respiration。 But in so confined a space it would； in a short time；
necessarily become foul； and unfit for use from frequent contact with
the lungs。 It was then ejected by a small valve at the bottom of the
car the dense air readily sinking into the thinner atmosphere
below。 To avoid the inconvenience of making a total vacuum at any
moment within the chamber； this purification was never accomplished
all at once； but in a gradual manner the valve being opened only
for a few seconds； then closed again； until one or two strokes from
the pump of the condenser had supplied the place of the atmosphere
ejected。 For the sake of experiment I had put the cat and kittens in
a small basket； and suspended it outside the car to a button at the
bottom； close by the valve； through which I could feed them at any
moment when necessary。 I did this at some little risk； and before
closing the mouth of the chamber； by reaching under the car with one
of the poles before mentioned to which a hook had been attached。
〃By the time I had fully completed these arrangements and filled the
chamber as explained； it wanted only ten minutes of nine o'clock。
During the whole period of my being thus employed； I endured the most
terrible distress from difficulty of respiration； and bitterly did I
repent the negligence or rather fool…hardiness； of which I had been
guilty； of putting off to the last moment a matter of so much
importance。 But having at length accomplished it； I soon began to
reap the benefit of my invention。 Once again I breathed with perfect
freedom and ease and indeed why should I not？ I was also agreeably
surprised to find myself； in a great measure； relieved from the
violent pains which had hitherto tormented me。 A slight headache；
accompanied with a sensation of fulness or distention about the
wrists； the ankles； and the throat； was nearly all of which I had now
to complain。 Thus it seemed evident that a greater part of the
uneasiness attending the removal of atmospheric pressure had actually
worn off； as I had expected； and that much of the pain endured for
the last two hours should have been attributed altogether to the
effects of a deficient respiration。
〃At twenty minutes before nine o'clock that is to say； a short
time prior to my closing up the mouth of the chamber； the mercury
attained its limit； or ran down； in the barometer； which； as I
mentioned before； was one of an extended construction。 It then
indicated an altitude on my part of 132；000 feet； or five…and…twenty
miles； and I consequently surveyed at that time an extent of the
earth's area amounting to no less than the three
hundred…and…twentieth part of its entire superficies。 At nine o'clock
I had again lost sight of land to the eastward； but not before I
became aware that the balloon was drifting rapidly to the N。 N。 W。
The convexity of the ocean beneath me was very evident indeed；
although my view was often interrupted by the masses of cloud which
floated to and fro。 I observed now that even the lightest vapors
never rose to more than ten miles above the level of the sea。
〃At half past nine I tried the experiment of throwing out a handful
of feathers through the valve。 They did not float as I had expected；
but dropped down perpendicularly； like a bullet； en masse； and with
the greatest velocity being out of sight in a very few seconds。 I
did not at first know what to make of this extraordinary phenomenon；
not being able to believe that my rate of ascent had； of a sudden；
met with so prodigious an acceleration。 But it soon occurred to me
that the atmosphere was now far too rare to sustain even the
feathers； that they actually fell； as they appeared to do； with great
rapidity； and that I had been surprised by the united velocities of
their descent and my own elevation。
〃By ten o'clock I found that I had very little to occupy my immediate
attention。 Affairs went swimmingly； and I believed the balloon to be
going upward witb a speed increasing momently although I had no
longer any means of ascertaining the progression of the increase。 I
suffered no pain or uneasiness of any kind； and enjoyed better
spirits than I had at any period since my departure from Rotterdam；
busying myself now in examining the state of my various apparatus；
and now in regenerating the atmosphere within the chamber。 This
latter point I determined to attend to at regular intervals of forty
minutes； more on account of the preservation of my health； than from
so frequent a renovation being absolutely necessary。 In the meanwhile
I could not help making anticipations。 Fancy revelled in the wild and
dreamy regions of the moon。 Imagination； feeling herself for once
unshackled； roamed at will among the ever…changing wonders of a
shadowy and unstable land。 Now there were boary and time…honored
forests； and craggy precipices； and waterfalls tumbling with a loud
noise into abysses without a bottom。 Then I came suddenly into still
noonday solitudes； where no wind of heaven ever intruded； and where
vast meadows of poppies； and slender； lily…looking flowers spread
themselves out a weary distance； all silent and motionless forever。
Then again I journeyed far down away into another country where it
was all one dim and vague lake； with a boundary line of clouds。 And
out of this melancholy water arose a forest of tall eastern trees；
like a wilderness of dreams。 And I have in mind that the shadows of
the trees which fell upon the lake remained not on the surface where
they fell； but sunk slowly and steadily down； and commingled with the
waves； while from the trunks of the trees other shadows were
continually coming out； and taking the place of their brothers thus
entombed。 〃This then；〃 I said thoughtfully； 〃is the very reason why
the waters of this lake grow blacker with age； and more melancholy as
the hours run on。〃 But fancies such as these were not the sole
possessors of my brain。 Horrors of a nature most stern and most
appalling would too frequently obtrude themselves upon my mind； and
shake the innermost depths of my soul with the bare supposition of
their possibility。 Yet I would not suffer my thoughts for any length
of time to dwell upon these latter speculations； rightly judging the
real and palpable dangers of the voyage sufficient for my undivided
attention。
〃At five o'clock； p。m。； being engaged in regenerating the atmosphere
within the chamber； I took that opportunity of observing the cat and
kittens through the valve。 The cat herself appeared to suffer again
very much； and I had no hesitation in attributing her uneasiness
chiefly to a difficulty in breathing； but my experiment with the
kittens had resulted very strangely。 I had expected； of course； to
see them betray a sense of pain； although in a less degree than their
mother； and this would have been sufficient to confirm my opinion
concerning the habitual endurance of atmospheric pressure。 But I was
not prepared to find them； upon close examination； evidently enjoying
a high degree of health； breathing with the greatest ease and perfect
regularity； and evincing not the slightest sign of any uneasiness
whatever。 I could only account for all this by extending my theory；
and supposing that the highly rarefied atmosphere around might
perhaps not be； as I had taken for granted； chemically insufficient
for the purposes of life； and that a person born in such a medium
might； possibly； be unaware of any inconvenience attending its
inhalation； while； upon removal to the denser strata near the earth；
he might end
