CHAPTERXXXII.The Aironaut was lost, tho’ in Sight of a Country well knownwhen below.Section 174.HEthoughthimself again over the Wever.At 47 Minutes past III, over aredRivulet.At 47 Minutes after III, the Prospectbeneathopened, just wide enough to shew, that he was suspended in the open Space over the Center of some Rivulet.The Map of the Country which had been so carefully studied, wasnowconsulted for the first Time, but coud not bring to his Recollection any Traces of the extraordinary Curves which then met his Eye.They bore not the least Resemblance to any Part of the River Mersey.No River like that below him had ever presented itself.ItsDoublingswere so various andfantasticas to exceed the Limits of Credibility.The Neck of the Balloon tyed some Timebeforeto prevent the Descent.175. He was still stationary, at an immense Height, without theleastInclination to descend: havingsome Time beforetaken the Precaution to tyeagainthe Neck of the Balloon, as soon as he had perceived it didnotinflate, as at first, to anydangerousDegree.No Towns, no Houses appeared. Nopublic Roadswere discoverable. No Voices were heard.[48]The Country beyond the Rivulet began to disclose itself: but was quitenewto him at thatAltitude, and seemed as if almost covered with Wood.176. HisWatchshewed the Time of the Day, and the Sun alonesufficientlyindicated the Point of the Compass.ThewhiteFlag manifestednoChange in the Wind.But whether he was near Liverpool, Wigan, or Manchester, he coud not discover.The Countrybelowunknown to the Aironaut,whenin the Balloon.177. He was entirelylostin theblue Fieldsof Air; far above the Summits of the Clouds; tho’ the Balloon was in Sight of the Earth, and of Numbers who were gazing at it.178. TheColourof the new Rivulet was full asred, as any he had seen before.He thought it might be an insignificantBrook, which tho’ curiously curved, was too small to be inserted in the Map.Still he continued over it: turning and returninggentlyin small Curves.179. He presently passedNorthwardof the Rivuletovera woody Country, in which he coud discovernoVariety ofColouringeither in the Ground Work or Enclosures; the whole having adark greenCast.Unusual Objects below.An Appearance of a very distant and remotePlainthen presented itself; the Size of a moderate Carpet: of aruddyColour; and surrounded by agreenBorder. Being an unusual Object it continued to engage his Attention.180. Not far from the first, another of the same Kind, of a more dusky Cast, butlessand somewhat nearer, that ismore underhim, then attracted his Notice.He wished todecipher them, but in vain.The Prospects opened, which demonstrated his Descent, owing to the Loss of Gass.181. The Sun shonebrighton both: and in a very few Minutes, thecircularProspectsencreased: which was now become aregularand undeniable Signal that the Balloon had begun todescend. (Section 17.)ThelatterPlain appeared, at the first, about the Size of a commonHandkerchief.The Balloon continued to descend.The same Spot perpetually varying to the Eye of the Aironaut.182. In a Couple of Minutes, the Plain appeared intersectedcloselyevery Way, like theCoatof aripening Melon. Descending a littlelower; it seemed covered with aNet, theMeshesof which were distinct. Andlowerstill; it extended itselfgreatlyonallSides: (at which Time a certain Degree ofChillinessprevailed:) and was thenagain mistaken, and looked upon as adryHeath, deeply overrun with Shrubs of the same Name.Ballast thrown out gradually.183. The Descent of the Balloon beingratherquicker than was expected, or desired; it was deemed expedientto have Recourse to thelastBag of Sand, which lay open, and weighed 20 Pounds.It was accordingly thrown out, a Handful at a Time.The remaining Ballast thrown outat once, in all 20lb. weight.But that Method not seemingsufficienttocheckthe Descent, when at the Height of 150 or 200 Yards;allthe Sand was poured out, and the Bag thrown down.Gentle Landing of the Balloon.This had the desired Effect: and the Balloon continuing to descend with a Motionuniformly retarded, alighted, as thedownof a Thistle, in the gentlest Manner, withoutanyRebound.Anchor and Cable not made use of.184. There being scarcely aBreathof Air abroad, the Aironaut made no Use of his Anchor and Cable: but continued as from the first,standinguprightin the Car; which, having moved a Yard or twoonlyalong the Ground, rested in a perpendicular Situation.The Balloon, suspended over himlike avastUmbrella,levitatedverticallyin the grandest Manner.185. He wasalonewhen he alighted: but, in afewMinutes, found himself surrounded by the Country-People, who had wadedabove Ancle-deep, and came running from all Parts, to see thewonder, and contribute theirAssistance.Landed at 53 Minutes past III. Thermometer 59.186. Helandedexactly, at 7 Minutes before IV: Thermometer 59: butwherehe coudnottell.The first Question was “Pray where am I?” And the Answer;—inLancashire.On asking the nearest Distance to a Turnpike-Road; the People said he was withintwo Fieldsof one, and offered to conduct him thither.He accepted their Offer, and sharedhis Liquoramong them.
CHAPTERXXXII.
The Aironaut was lost, tho’ in Sight of a Country well knownwhen below.
Section 174.HEthoughthimself again over the Wever.
At 47 Minutes past III, over aredRivulet.
At 47 Minutes after III, the Prospectbeneathopened, just wide enough to shew, that he was suspended in the open Space over the Center of some Rivulet.
The Map of the Country which had been so carefully studied, wasnowconsulted for the first Time, but coud not bring to his Recollection any Traces of the extraordinary Curves which then met his Eye.
They bore not the least Resemblance to any Part of the River Mersey.
No River like that below him had ever presented itself.
ItsDoublingswere so various andfantasticas to exceed the Limits of Credibility.
The Neck of the Balloon tyed some Timebeforeto prevent the Descent.
175. He was still stationary, at an immense Height, without theleastInclination to descend: havingsome Time beforetaken the Precaution to tyeagainthe Neck of the Balloon, as soon as he had perceived it didnotinflate, as at first, to anydangerousDegree.
No Towns, no Houses appeared. Nopublic Roadswere discoverable. No Voices were heard.[48]
The Country beyond the Rivulet began to disclose itself: but was quitenewto him at thatAltitude, and seemed as if almost covered with Wood.
176. HisWatchshewed the Time of the Day, and the Sun alonesufficientlyindicated the Point of the Compass.
ThewhiteFlag manifestednoChange in the Wind.
But whether he was near Liverpool, Wigan, or Manchester, he coud not discover.
The Countrybelowunknown to the Aironaut,whenin the Balloon.
177. He was entirelylostin theblue Fieldsof Air; far above the Summits of the Clouds; tho’ the Balloon was in Sight of the Earth, and of Numbers who were gazing at it.
178. TheColourof the new Rivulet was full asred, as any he had seen before.
He thought it might be an insignificantBrook, which tho’ curiously curved, was too small to be inserted in the Map.
Still he continued over it: turning and returninggentlyin small Curves.
179. He presently passedNorthwardof the Rivuletovera woody Country, in which he coud discovernoVariety ofColouringeither in the Ground Work or Enclosures; the whole having adark greenCast.
Unusual Objects below.
An Appearance of a very distant and remotePlainthen presented itself; the Size of a moderate Carpet: of aruddyColour; and surrounded by agreenBorder. Being an unusual Object it continued to engage his Attention.
180. Not far from the first, another of the same Kind, of a more dusky Cast, butlessand somewhat nearer, that ismore underhim, then attracted his Notice.
He wished todecipher them, but in vain.
The Prospects opened, which demonstrated his Descent, owing to the Loss of Gass.
181. The Sun shonebrighton both: and in a very few Minutes, thecircularProspectsencreased: which was now become aregularand undeniable Signal that the Balloon had begun todescend. (Section 17.)
ThelatterPlain appeared, at the first, about the Size of a commonHandkerchief.
The Balloon continued to descend.
The same Spot perpetually varying to the Eye of the Aironaut.
182. In a Couple of Minutes, the Plain appeared intersectedcloselyevery Way, like theCoatof aripening Melon. Descending a littlelower; it seemed covered with aNet, theMeshesof which were distinct. Andlowerstill; it extended itselfgreatlyonallSides: (at which Time a certain Degree ofChillinessprevailed:) and was thenagain mistaken, and looked upon as adryHeath, deeply overrun with Shrubs of the same Name.
Ballast thrown out gradually.
183. The Descent of the Balloon beingratherquicker than was expected, or desired; it was deemed expedientto have Recourse to thelastBag of Sand, which lay open, and weighed 20 Pounds.
It was accordingly thrown out, a Handful at a Time.
The remaining Ballast thrown outat once, in all 20lb. weight.
But that Method not seemingsufficienttocheckthe Descent, when at the Height of 150 or 200 Yards;allthe Sand was poured out, and the Bag thrown down.
Gentle Landing of the Balloon.
This had the desired Effect: and the Balloon continuing to descend with a Motionuniformly retarded, alighted, as thedownof a Thistle, in the gentlest Manner, withoutanyRebound.
Anchor and Cable not made use of.
184. There being scarcely aBreathof Air abroad, the Aironaut made no Use of his Anchor and Cable: but continued as from the first,standinguprightin the Car; which, having moved a Yard or twoonlyalong the Ground, rested in a perpendicular Situation.
The Balloon, suspended over himlike avastUmbrella,levitatedverticallyin the grandest Manner.
185. He wasalonewhen he alighted: but, in afewMinutes, found himself surrounded by the Country-People, who had wadedabove Ancle-deep, and came running from all Parts, to see thewonder, and contribute theirAssistance.
Landed at 53 Minutes past III. Thermometer 59.
186. Helandedexactly, at 7 Minutes before IV: Thermometer 59: butwherehe coudnottell.
The first Question was “Pray where am I?” And the Answer;—inLancashire.
On asking the nearest Distance to a Turnpike-Road; the People said he was withintwo Fieldsof one, and offered to conduct him thither.
He accepted their Offer, and sharedhis Liquoramong them.