the works of edgar allan poe-1-第12章

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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。　My　apparatus　all　continued　in　good　
order；　and　the　balloon　still　ascended　without　any　perceptible　
vacillation。　The　cold　was　intense；　and　obliged　me　to　wrap　up　closely　
in　an　overcoat。　When　darkness　came　over　the　earth；　I　betook　myself　to　
bed；　although　it　was　for　many　hours　afterward　broad　daylight　all　
around　my　immediate　situation。　The　water…clock　was　punctual　in　its　
duty；　and　I　slept　until　next　morning　soundly；　with　the　exception　of　
the　periodical　interruption。

〃April　4th。　Arose　in　good　health　and　spirits；　and　was　astonished　at　
the　singular　change　which　had　taken　place　in　the　appearance　of　the　
sea。　It　had　lost；　in　a　great　measure；　the　deep　tint　of　blue　it　had　
hitherto　worn；　being　now　of　a　grayish…white；　and　of　a　lustre　dazzling　
to　the　eye。　The　islands　were　no　longer　visible；　whether　they　had　
passed　down　the　horizon　to　the　southeast；　or　whether　my　increasing　
elevation　had　left　them　out　of　sight；　it　is　impossible　to　say。　I　was　
inclined；　however；　to　the　latter　opinion。　The　rim　of　ice　to　the　
northward　was　growing　more　and　more　apparent。　Cold　by　no　means　so　
intense。　Nothing　of　importance　occurred；　and　I　passed　the　day　in　
reading；　having　taken　care　to　supply　myself　with　books。

〃April　5th。　Beheld　the　singular　phenomenon　of　the　sun　rising　while　
nearly　the　whole　visible　surface　of　the　earth　continued　to　be　
involved　in　darkness。　In　time；　however；　the　light　spread　itself　over　
all；　and　I　again　saw　the　line　of　ice　to　the　northward。　It　was　now　
very　distinct；　and　appeared　of　a　much　darker　hue　than　the　waters　of　
the　ocean。　I　was　evidently　approaching　it；　and　with　great　rapidity。　
Fancied　I　could　again　distinguish　a　strip　of　land　to　the　eastward；　
and　one　also　to　the　westward；　but　could　not　be　certain。　Weather　
moderate。　Nothing　of　any　consequence　happened　during　the　day。　Went　
early　to　bed。

〃April　6th。　Was　surprised　at　finding　the　rim　of　ice　at　a　very　
moderate　distance；　and　an　immense　field　of　the　same　material　
stretching　away　off　to　the　horizon　in　the　north。　It　was　evident　that　
if　the　balloon　held　its　present　course；　it　would　soon　arrive　above　
the　Frozen　Ocean；　and　I　had　now　little　doubt　of　ultimately　seeing　the　
Pole。　During　the　whole　of　the　day　I　continued　to　near　the　ice。　Toward　
night　the　limits　of　my　horizon　very　suddenly　and　materially　
increased；　owing　undoubtedly　to　the　earth's　form　being　that　of　an　
oblate　spheroid；　and　my　arriving　above　the　flattened　regions　in　the　
vicinity　of　the　Arctic　circle。　When　darkness　at　length　overtook　me；　I　
went　to　bed　in　great　anxiety；　fearing　to　pass　over　the　object　of　so　
much　curiosity　when　I　should　have　no　opportunity　of　observing　it。

〃April　7th。　Arose　early；　and；　to　my　great　joy；　at　length　beheld　what　
there　could　be　no　hesitation　in　supposing　the　northern　Pole　itself。　
It　was　there；　beyond　a　doubt；　and　immediately　beneath　my　feet；　but；　
alas！　I　had　now　ascended　to　so　vast　a　distance；　that　nothing　could　
with　accuracy　be　discerned。　Indeed；　to　judge　from　the　progression　of　
the　numbers　indicating　my　various　altitudes；　respectively；　at　
different　periods；　between　six　A。M。　on　the　second　of　April；　and　
twenty　minutes　before　nine　A。M。　of　the　same　day　（at　which　time　the　
barometer　ran　down）；　it　might　be　fairly　inferred　that　the　balloon　had　
now；　at　four　o'clock　in　the　morning　of　April　the　seventh；　reached　a　
height　of　not　less；　certainly；　than　7；254　miles　above　the　surface　of　
the　sea。　This　elevation　may　appear　immense；　but　the　estimate　upon　
which　it　is　calculated　gave　a　result　in　all　probability　far　inferior　
to　the　truth。　At　all　events　I　undoubtedly　beheld　the　whole　of　the　
earth's　major　diameter；　the　entire　northern　hemisphere　lay　beneath　me　
like　a　chart　orthographically　projected：　and　the　great　circle　of　the　
equator　itself　formed　the　boundary　line　of　my　horizon。　Your　
Excellencies　may；　however；　readily　imagine　that　the　confined　regions　
hitherto　unexplored　within　the　limits　of　the　Arctic　circle；　although　
situated　directly　beneath　me；　and　therefore　seen　witho