CHAPTERXXXI.Brilliant Colouring ofdenseClouds.Section 172.A Thunder Cloud in most grotesque Form;—of superior Magnitude, Density,andbrightness—acelestial Colouring;Aironaut lost in theblue Fieldsof Air, by the Intervention of Clouds below him: which prevented allfartherKnowledge of his Situation, and also a Sight of the Earth itself.and whoseShadewas itself aColourof semi-transparent and transcendentBlueandViolet-Purple;—remainingfor several Minutes,exactly underthe Balloon,temptedthe Aironaut to descend into it; and, if possible, investigate its Structure and Composition.Blanchard, he knew, had passed throu’manywithout Danger: any Fears that might otherwise have been entertained on that Head were therefore groundless: particularly as Gass, i. e.inflammable Airand theelectric Fluid(supposing an electric Atmosphere had surrounded the Thunder Cloud) mutuallyrepeleach other. He however declined the Trial: among other Reasons which then offered; that the temporary and apparentRest of both Balloon and Clouds portendedhisSituation to be over the Center ofsome Water: so that ifGasshad been let out in order todescend;enoughmightnothave remained to make Choice of a proper Place toland.173. Some Minutes after; on theRetreatof the Clouds, orprogressiveMotion of the Balloon; he found himself suspended over the mostenchantingMeanders of a Rivulet.Where he coud not tell.
CHAPTERXXXI.
Brilliant Colouring ofdenseClouds.
Section 172.A Thunder Cloud in most grotesque Form;—of superior Magnitude, Density,andbrightness—acelestial Colouring;Aironaut lost in theblue Fieldsof Air, by the Intervention of Clouds below him: which prevented allfartherKnowledge of his Situation, and also a Sight of the Earth itself.and whoseShadewas itself aColourof semi-transparent and transcendentBlueandViolet-Purple;—remainingfor several Minutes,exactly underthe Balloon,temptedthe Aironaut to descend into it; and, if possible, investigate its Structure and Composition.
Blanchard, he knew, had passed throu’manywithout Danger: any Fears that might otherwise have been entertained on that Head were therefore groundless: particularly as Gass, i. e.inflammable Airand theelectric Fluid(supposing an electric Atmosphere had surrounded the Thunder Cloud) mutuallyrepeleach other. He however declined the Trial: among other Reasons which then offered; that the temporary and apparentRest of both Balloon and Clouds portendedhisSituation to be over the Center ofsome Water: so that ifGasshad been let out in order todescend;enoughmightnothave remained to make Choice of a proper Place toland.
173. Some Minutes after; on theRetreatof the Clouds, orprogressiveMotion of the Balloon; he found himself suspended over the mostenchantingMeanders of a Rivulet.
Where he coud not tell.