the works of edgar allan poe-1-第62章
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unpleasant ； but the ample space in the car enabled us to lie down；
and by means of cloaks and a few blankets； we did sufficiently well。
〃P。S。 （by Mr。 Ainsworth。） The last nine hours have been
unquestionably the most exciting of my life。 I can conceive nothing
more sublimating than the strange peril and novelty of an adventure
such as this。 May God grant that we succeed ！ I ask not success for
mere safety to my insignificant person； but for the sake of human
knowledge and … for the vastness of the triumph。 And yet the feat is
only so evidently feasible that the sole wonder is why men have
scrupled to attempt it before。 One single gale such as now befriends
us … let such a tempest whirl forward a balloon for four or five days
（these gales often last longer） and the voyager will be easily borne；
in that period； from coast to coast。 In view of such a gale the
broad Atlantic becomes a mere lake。 I am more struck； just now； with
the supreme silence which reigns in the sea beneath us；
notwithstanding its agitation； than with any other phenomenon
presenting itself。 The waters give up no voice to the heavens。 The
immense flaming ocean writhes and is tortured uncomplainingly。 The
mountainous surges suggest the idea of innumerable dumb gigantic
fiends struggling in impotent agony。 In a night such as is this to
me； a man _lives_ … lives a whole century of ordinary life … nor
would I forego this rapturous delight for that of a whole century of
ordinary existence。
〃_Sunday； the seventh_。 ＇Mr。 Mason's MS。＇ This morning the gale；
by 10； had subsided to an eight or nine … knot breeze； （for a vessel
at sea；） and bears us； perhaps； thirty miles per hour； or more。 It
has veered； however； very considerably to the north ； and now； at
sundown； we are holding our course due west； principally by the screw
and rudder； which answer their purposes to admiration。 I regard the
project as thoroughly successful； and the easy navigation of the air
in any direction （not exactly in the teeth of a gale） as no longer
problematical。 We could not have made head against the strong wind
of yesterday ； but； by ascending； we might have got out of its
influence； if requisite。 Against a pretty stiff breeze； I feel
convinced； we can make our way with the propeller。 At noon； to…day；
ascended to an elevation of nearly 25；000 feet； by discharging
ballast。 Did this to search for a more direct current； but found
none so favorable as the one we are now in。 We have an abundance of
gas to take us across this small pond； even should the voyage last
three weeks。 I have not the slightest fear for the result。 The
difficulty has been strangely exaggerated and misapprehended。 I can
choose my current； and should I find _all_ currents against me； I can
make very tolerable headway with the propeller。 We have had no
incidents worth recording。 The night promises fair。
P。S。 ＇By Mr。 Ainsworth。＇ I have little to record； except the
fact （to me quite a surprising one） that； at an elevation equal to
that of Cotopaxi； I experienced neither very intense cold； nor
headache； nor difficulty of breathing ； neither； I find； did Mr。
Mason； nor Mr。 Holland； nor Sir Everard。 Mr。 Osborne complained of
constriction of the chest … but this soon wore off。 We have flown at
a great rate during the day； and we must be more than half way across
the Atlantic。 We have passed over some twenty or thirty vessels of
various kinds； and all seem to be delightfully astonished。 Crossing
the ocean in a balloon is not so difficult a feat after all。 _Omne
ignotum pro magnifico。 Mem ：_ at 25；000 feet elevation the sky
appears nearly black； and the stars are distinctly visible ； while
the sea does not seem convex （as one might suppose） but absolutely
and most unequivocally _concave_。｛*1｝
〃_Monday； the 8th_。 ＇Mr。 Mason's MS。＇ This morning we had again
some little trouble with the rod of the propeller； which must be
entirely remodelled； for fear of serious accident … I mean the steel
rod … not the vanes。 The latter could not be improved。 The wind has
been blowing steadily and strongly from the north…east all day and
so far fortune seems bent upon favoring us。 Just before day； we were
all somewhat alarmed at some odd noises and concussions in the
balloon； accompanied with the apparent rapid subsidence of the whole
machine。 These phenomena were occasioned by the expansion of the
gas； through increase of heat in the atmosphere； and the consequent
disruption of the minute particles of ice with which the network had
become encrusted during the night。 Threw down several bottles to the
vessels below。 Saw one of them picked up by a large ship … seemingly
one of the New York line packets。 Endeavored to make out her name；
but could not be sure of it。 Mr。 Osbornes telescope made it out
something like 〃Atalanta。〃 It is now 12 ；at night； and we are still
going nearly west； at a rapid pace。 The sea is peculiarly
phosphorescent。
〃P。S。 ＇By Mr。 Ainsworth。＇ It is now 2； A。M。； and nearly calm； as
well as I can judge … but it is very difficult to determine this
point； since we move _with_ the air so completely。 I have not slept
since quitting Wheal…Vor； but can stand it no longer； and must take a
nap。 We cannot be far from the American coast。
〃_Tuesday； the _9_th_。 ＇Mr。 Ainsworth's MS。＇ _One； P。M。 We are
in full view of the low coast of South Carolina_。 The great problem
is accomplished。 We have crossed the Atlantic … fairly and _easily_
crossed it in a balloon ！ God be praised ！ Who shall say that
anything is impossible hereafter？ 〃
The Journal here ceases。 Some particulars of the descent were
communicated； however； by Mr。 Ainsworth to Mr。 Forsyth。 It was
nearly dead calm when the voyagers first came in view of the coast；
which was immediately recognized by both the seamen； and by Mr。
Osborne。 The latter gentleman having acquaintances at Fort Moultrie；
it was immediately resolved to descend in its vicinity。 The balloon
was brought over the beach （the tide being out and the sand hard；
smooth； and admirably adapted for a descent；） and the grapnel let go；
which took firm hold at once。 The inhabitants of the island； and of
the fort； thronged out； of course； to see the balloon ； but it was
with the greatest difficulty that any one could be made to credit the
actual voyage … _the crossing of the Atlantic_。 The grapnel caught
at 2； P。M。； precisely ； and thus the whole voyage was completed in
seventy…five hours ； or rather less； counting from shore to shore。
No serious accident occurred。 No real danger was at any time
apprehended。 The balloon was exhausted and secured without trouble ；
and when the MS。 from which this narrative is compiled was
despatched from Charleston； the party were still at Fort Moultrie。
Their farther intentions were not ascertained ； but we can safely
promise our readers some additional information either on Monday or
in the course of the next day； at farthest。
This is unquestionably the most stupendous； the most interesting；
and the most important undertaking； ever accomplished or even
attempted by man。 What magnificent events may ensue； it would be
useless now to think of determining。
~~~ End of Text ~~~
｛*1｝ _Note_。 … Mr。 Ainsworth has not attempted to account for this
phenomenon； which； however； is quite susceptible of explanation。 A
line dropped from an elevation of 25；000 feet； perpendicularly to the
surface of the earth （or sea）； would form the perpendicular of a
right…angled triangle； of which the base would extend from the right
angle to the horizon； and the hypothenuse from the horizon to the
balloon。 But the 25；000 feet of altitude is little or nothing； in
comparison with the extent of the prospect。 In other words； the base
and hypothenuse of the supposed triangle would be so long when
compared with the perpendicular； that the two former may be regarded
as nearly parallel。 In this manner the horizon of the 鎟onaut would
appear to be _on a level_ with the car。 But； as the po
