the works of edgar allan poe-1-第16章
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inhalation； while； upon removal to the denser strata near the earth；
he might endure tortures of a similar nature to those I had so lately
experienced。 It has since been to me a matter of deep regret that an
awkward accident； at this time； occasioned me the loss of my little
family of cats； and deprived me of the insight into this matter which
a continued experiment might have afforded。 In passing my hand
through the valve； with a cup of water for the old puss； the sleeves
of my shirt became entangled in the loop which sustained the basket；
and thus； in a moment； loosened it from the bottom。 Had the whole
actually vanished into air； it could not have shot from my sight in a
more abrupt and instantaneous manner。 Positively； there could not
have intervened the tenth part of a second between the disengagement
of the basket and its absolute and total disappearance with all that
it contained。 My good wishes followed it to the earth； but of course；
I had no hope that either cat or kittens would ever live to tell the
tale of their misfortune。
〃At six o'clock； I perceived a great portion of the earth's visible
area to the eastward involved in thick shadow； which continued to
advance with great rapidity； until； at five minutes before seven； the
whole surface in view was enveloped in the darkness of night。 It was
not； however； until long after this time that the rays of the setting
sun ceased to illumine the balloon； and this circumstance； although
of course fully anticipated； did not fail to give me an infinite deal
of pleasure。 It was evident that； in the morning； I should behold the
rising luminary many hours at least before the citizens of Rotterdam；
in spite of their situation so much farther to the eastward； and
thus； day after day； in proportion to the height ascended； would I
enjoy the light of the sun for a longer and a longer period。 I now
determined to keep a journal of my passage； reckoning the days from
one to twenty…four hours continuously； without taking into
consideration the intervals of darkness。
〃At ten o'clock； feeling sleepy； I determined to lie down for the
rest of the night； but here a difficulty presented itself； which；
obvious as it may appear； had escaped my attention up to the very
moment of which I am now speaking。 If I went to sleep as I proposed；
how could the atmosphere in the chamber be regenerated in the
interim？ To breathe it for more than an hour； at the farthest； would
be a matter of impossibility； or； if even this term could be extended
to an hour and a quarter； the most ruinous consequences might ensue。
The consideration of this dilemma gave me no little disquietude； and
it will hardly be believed； that； after the dangers I had undergone；
I should look upon this business in so serious a light； as to give up
all hope of accomplishing my ultimate design； and finally make up my
mind to the necessity of a descent。 But this hesitation was only
momentary。 I reflected that man is the veriest slave of custom； and
that many points in the routine of his existence are deemed
essentially important； which are only so at all by his having
rendered them habitual。 It was very certain that I could not do
without sleep； but I might easily bring myself to feel no
inconvenience from being awakened at intervals of an hour during the
whole period of my repose。 It would require but five minutes at most
to regenerate the atmosphere in the fullest manner； and the only real
difficulty was to contrive a method of arousing myself at the proper
moment for so doing。 But this was a question which； I am willing to
confess； occasioned me no little trouble in its solution。 To be sure；
I had heard of the student who； to prevent his falling asleep over
his books； held in one hand a ball of copper； the din of whose
descent into a basin of the same metal on the floor beside his chair；
served effectually to startle him up； if； at any moment； he should be
overcome with drowsiness。 My own case； however； was very different
indeed； and left me no room for any similar idea； for I did not wish
to keep awake； but to be aroused from slumber at regular intervals of
time。 I at length hit upon the following expedient； which； simple as
it may seem； was hailed by me； at the moment of discovery； as an
invention fully equal to that of the telescope； the steam…engine； or
the art of printing itself。
〃It is necessary to premise； that the balloon； at the elevation now
attained； continued its course upward with an even and undeviating
ascent； and the car consequently followed with a steadiness so
perfect that it would have been impossible to detect in it the
slightest vacillation whatever。 This circumstance favored me greatly
in the project I now determined to adopt。 My supply of water had been
put on board in kegs containing five gallons each； and ranged very
securely around the interior of the car。 I unfastened one of these；
and taking two ropes tied them tightly across the rim of the
wicker…work from one side to the other； placing them about a foot
apart and parallel so as to form a kind of shelf； upon which I placed
the keg； and steadied it in a horizontal position。 About eight inches
immediately below these ropes； and four feet from the bottom of the
car I fastened another shelf but made of thin plank； being the
only similar piece of wood I had。 Upon this latter shelf； and exactly
beneath one of the rims of the keg； a small earthern pitcher was
deposited。 I now bored a hole in the end of the keg over the pitcher；
and fitted in a plug of soft wood； cut in a tapering or conical
shape。 This plug I pushed in or pulled out； as might happen； until；
after a few experiments； it arrived at that exact degree of
tightness； at which the water； oozing from the hole； and falling into
the pitcher below； would fill the latter to the brim in the period of
sixty minutes。 This； of course； was a matter briefly and easily
ascertained； by noticing the proportion of the pitcher filled in any
given time。 Having arranged all this； the rest of the plan is
obvious。 My bed was so contrived upon the floor of the car； as to
bring my head； in lying down； immediately below the mouth of the
pitcher。 It was evident； that； at the expiration of an hour； the
pitcher； getting full； would be forced to run over； and to run over
at the mouth； which was somewhat lower than the rim。 It was also
evident； that the water thus falling from a height of more than four
feet； could not do otherwise than fall upon my face； and that the
sure consequences would be； to waken me up instantaneously； even from
the soundest slumber in the world。
〃It was fully eleven by the time I had completed these arrangements；
and I immediately betook myself to bed； with full confidence in the
efficiency of my invention。 Nor in this matter was I disappointed。
Punctually every sixty minutes was I aroused by my trusty
chronometer； when； having emptied the pitcher into the bung…hole of
the keg； and performed the duties of the condenser； I retired again
to bed。 These regular interruptions to my slumber caused me even less
discomfort than I had anticipated； and when I finally arose for the
day； it was seven o'clock； and the sun had attained many degrees
above the line of my horizon。
〃April 3d。 I found the balloon at an immense height indeed； and the
earth's apparent convexity increased in a material degree。 Below me
in the ocean lay a cluster of black specks； which undoubtedly were
islands。 Far away to the northward I perceived a thin； white； and
exceedingly brilliant line； or streak； on the edge of the horizon；
and I had no hesitation in supposing it to be the southern disk of
the ices of the Polar Sea。 My curiosity was greatly excited； for I
had hopes of passing on much farther to the north； and might
possibly； at some period； find myself placed directly above the Pole
itself。 I now lamented that my great elevation would； in this case；
prevent my taking as accurate a survey as I could wish。 Much；
however； might be ascertained。 Nothing else of an extraordinary
nature occurred during the day
