the works of edgar allan poe-1-第7章

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have　dropped　the　prejudices　of　my　former　humble　situation　in　life；　
and　forgotten　the　bellows…mender　in　far　different　occupations。　But　at　
the　epoch　of　which　I　speak；　the　analogy　which　a　casual　observation　of　
a　star　offered　to　the　conclusions　I　had　already　drawn；　struck　me　with　
the　force　of　positive　conformation；　and　I　then　finally　made　up　my　
mind　to　the　course　which　I　afterwards　pursued。

〃It　was　late　when　I　reached　home；　and　I　went　immediately　to　bed。　My　
mind；　however；　was　too　much　occupied　to　sleep；　and　I　lay　the　whole　
night　buried　in　meditation。　Arising　early　in　the　morning；　and　
contriving　again　to　escape　the　vigilance　of　my　creditors；　I　repaired　
eagerly　to　the　bookseller's　stall；　and　laid　out　what　little　ready　
money　I　possessed；　in　the　purchase　of　some　volumes　of　Mechanics　and　
Practical　Astronomy。　Having　arrived　at　home　safely　with　these；　I　
devoted　every　spare　moment　to　their　perusal；　and　soon　made　such　
proficiency　in　studies　of　this　nature　as　I　thought　sufficient　for　the　
execution　of　my　plan。　In　the　intervals　of　this　period；　I　made　every　
endeavor　to　conciliate　the　three　creditors　who　had　given　me　so　much　
annoyance。　In　this　I　finally　succeeded　　partly　by　selling　enough　of　
my　household　furniture　to　satisfy　a　moiety　of　their　claim；　and　partly　
by　a　promise　of　paying　the　balance　upon　completion　of　a　little　
project　which　I　told　them　I　had　in　view；　and　for　assistance　in　which　
I　solicited　their　services。　By　these　means　　for　they　were　ignorant　
men　　I　found　little　difficulty　in　gaining　them　over　to　my　purpose。

〃Matters　being　thus　arranged；　I　contrived；　by　the　aid　of　my　wife　and　
with　the　greatest　secrecy　and　caution；　to　dispose　of　what　property　I　
had　remaining；　and　to　borrow；　in　small　sums；　under　various　pretences；　
and　without　paying　any　attention　to　my　future　means　of　repayment；　no　
inconsiderable　quantity　of　ready　money。　With　the　means　thus　accruing　
I　proceeded　to　procure　at　intervals；　cambric　muslin；　very　fine；　in　
pieces　of　twelve　yards　each；　twine；　a　lot　of　the　varnish　of　
caoutchouc；　a　large　and　deep　basket　of　wicker…work；　made　to　order；　
and　several　other　articles　necessary　in　the　construction　and　
equipment　of　a　balloon　of　extraordinary　dimensions。　This　I　directed　
my　wife　to　make　up　as　soon　as　possible；　and　gave　her　all　requisite　
information　as　to　the　particular　method　of　proceeding。　In　the　
meantime　I　worked　up　the　twine　into　a　net…work　of　sufficient　
dimensions；　rigged　it　with　a　hoop　and　the　necessary　cords；　bought　a　
quadrant；　a　compass；　a　spy…glass；　a　common　barometer　with　some　
important　modifications；　and　two　astronomical　instruments　not　so　
generally　known。　I　then　took　opportunities　of　conveying　by　night；　to　
a　retired　situation　east　of　Rotterdam；　five　iron…bound　casks；　to　
contain　about　fifty　gallons　each；　and　one　of　a　larger　size；　six　
tinned　ware　tubes；　three　inches　in　diameter；　properly　shaped；　and　ten　
feet　in　length；　a　quantity　of　a　particular　metallic　substance；　or　
semi…metal；　which　I　shall　not　name；　and　a　dozen　demijohns　of　a　very　
common　acid。　The　gas　to　be　formed　from　these　latter　materials　is　a　
gas　never　yet　generated　by　any　other　person　than　myself　　or　at　
least　never　applied　to　any　similar　purpose。　The　secret　I　would　make　
no　difficulty　in　disclosing；　but　that　it　of　right　belongs　to　a　
citizen　of　Nantz；　in　France；　by　whom　it　was　conditionally　
communicated　to　myself。　The　same　individual　submitted　to　me；　without　
being　at　all　aware　of　my　intentions；　a　method　of　constructing　
balloons　from　the　membrane　of　a　certain　animal；　through　which　
substance　any　escape　of　gas　was　nearly　an　impossibility。　I　found　it；　
however；　altogether　too　expensive；　and　was　not　sure；　upon　the　whole；　
whether　cambric　muslin　with　a　coating　of　gum　caoutchouc；　was　not　
equally　as　good。　I　mention　this　circumstance；　because　I　think　it　
probable　that　hereafter　the　individual　in　question　may　attempt　a　
balloon　ascension　with　the　novel　gas　and　material　I　have　spoken　of；　
and　I　do　not　wish　to　deprive　him　of　the　honor　of　a　very　singular　
invention。

〃On　the　spot　which　I　intended　each　of　the　smaller　casks　to　occupy　
respectively　during　the　inflation　of　the　balloon；　I　privately　dug　a　
hole　two　feet　deep；　the　holes　forming　in　this　manner　a　circle　
twenty…five　feet　in　diameter。　In　the　centre　of　this　circle；　being　the　
station　designed　for　the　large　cask；　I　also　dug　a　hole　three　feet　in　
depth。　In　each　of　the　five　smaller　holes；　I　deposited　a　canister　
containing　fifty　pounds；　and　in　the　larger　one　a　keg　holding　one　
hundred　and　fifty　pounds；　of　cannon　powder。　These　　the　keg　and　
canisters　　I　connected　in　a　proper　manner　with　covered　trains；　and　
having　let　into　one　of　the　canisters　the　end　of　about　four　feet　of　
slow　match；　I　covered　up　the　hole；　and　placed　the　cask　over　it；　
leaving　the　other　end　of　the　match　protruding　about　an　inch；　and　
barely　visible　beyond　the　cask。　I　then　filled　up　the　remaining　holes；　
and　placed　the　barrels　over　them　in　their　destined　situation。

〃Besides　the　articles　above　enumerated；　I　conveyed　to　the　depot；　and　
there　secreted；　one　of　M。　Grimm's　improvements　upon　the　apparatus　for　
condensation　of　the　atmospheric　air。　I　found　this　machine；　however；　
to　require　considerable　alteration　before　it　could　be　adapted　to　the　
purposes　to　which　I　intended　making　it　applicable。　But；　with　severe　
labor　and　unremitting　perseverance；　I　at　length　met　with　entire　
success　in　all　my　preparations。　My　balloon　was　soon　completed。　It　
would　contain　more　than　forty　thousand　cubic　feet　of　gas；　would　take　
me　up　easily；　I　calculated；　with　all　my　implements；　and；　if　I　managed　
rightly；　with　one　hundred　and　seventy…five　pounds　of　ballast　into　the　
bargain。　It　had　received　three　coats　of　varnish；　and　I　found　the　
cambric　muslin　to　answer　all　the　purposes　of　silk　itself；　quite　as　
strong　and　a　good　deal　less　expensive。

〃Everything　being　now　ready；　I　exacted　from　my　wife　an　oath　of　
secrecy　in　relation　to　all　my　actions　from　the　day　of　my　first　visit　
to　the　bookseller's　stall；　and　promising；　on　my　part；　to　return　as　
soon　as　circumstances　would　permit；　I　gave　her　what　little　money　I　
had　left；　and　bade　her　farewell。　Indeed　I　had　no　fear　on　her　account。　
She　was　what　people　call　a　notable　woman；　and　could　manage　matters　in　
the　world　without　my　assistance。　I　believe；　to　tell　the　truth；　she　
always　looked　upon　me　as　an　idle　boy；　a　mere　make…weight；　good　for　
nothing　but　building　castles　in　the　air；　and　was　rather　glad　to　get　
rid　of　me。　It　was　a　dark　night　when　I　bade　her　good…bye；　and　taking　
with　me；　as　aides…de…camp；　the　three　creditors　who　had　given　me　so　
much　trouble；　we　carried　the　balloon；　with　the　car　and　accoutrements；　
by　a　roundabout　way；　to　the　station　where　the　other　articles　were　
deposited。　We　there　found　them　all　unmolested；　and　I　proceeded　
immediately　to　business。

〃It　was　the　first　of　April。　The　night；　as　I　said　before；　was　dark；　
there　was　not　a　star　to　be　seen；　and　a　drizzling　rain；　falling　at　
intervals；　rendered　us　very　uncomfortable。　But　my　chief　anxiety　was　
concerning　the　balloon；　which；　in　spite　of　the　varnish　with　which　it　
was　defended；　began　to　grow　rather　heavy　with　the　moisture；　the　
powder　also　was　liable　to　damage。　I　therefore　kept　my　three　duns　
working　with　great　diligence；　pounding　down　ice　around　the　central　
cask；　and　stirring　the　acid　in　the　others。　They　did　not　cease；　
however；　importuning　me　with　questions　as　to　what　I　intended　to　do　
with　all　this　apparatus；　and　expressed　much　dissatisfaction　at　the　
terrible　labor　I　made　them　undergo。　They　could　not　perceive；　so　they　
said；　what　good　was　likely　to　result　from　their　getting　wet　to　the　
skin；　merely　to　take　a　part　in　such　horrible　incantations。　I　began　to　
get　uneasy；　and　worked　away　with　all　my　might；　for　I　verily　believe　
the　idiots　supposed　that　I　had　entered　into　a　compact　with　the　devil；　
and　that；　in　short；　what　I　was　now　doing　was　nothing　better　than　it　
should　be。　I　was；　therefore；　in　great　fear　of　their　leaving　me　
altogether。　I　contrived；　however；　to　pacify　them　by　promises　of　
payment　of　all　scores　in　full；　as　soon　as　I　could　bring　the　present　
business　to　a　termination。　To　these　speeches　they　gave；　of　course；　
their　own　interpretation；　fancying；　no　doubt；　that　at　all　events　I　
should　come　into　possession　of　vast　quantities　of　ready　money；　and　
provided　I　paid　them　all　I　owed；　and　a　trifle　more；　in　consideration　
of　their　services；　I　dare　say　they　cared　very　little　what　became　of　
either　my　soul　or　my　carcass。

〃In　about　four　hours　and　a　half　I　found　the　balloon　sufficiently　
inflated。　I　attached　the　car；　therefore；　and　put　all　my　implements　in　
it　　not　forgetting　the　condensing　apparatus；　a　copious　supply　of　
water；　and　a　large　quantity　of　provisions；　such　as　pemmican；　in　which　
much　nutriment　is　contained　in　comparatively　little　bulk。　I　also　
secured　in　the　car　a　pair　of　pigeons　and　a　cat。　It　was　now　nearly　
daybreak；　and　I　thought　it　high　time　to　take　my　departure。　Dropping　a　
lighted　cigar　on　the　ground；　as　if　by　accident；　I　took　the　
opportunity；　in　stooping　to　pick　it　up；　of　igniting　privately　the　
piece　of　slow　match；　whose　end；　as　I　said　before；　protruded　a　very　
little　beyond　the　lower　rim　of　one　of　the　smaller　casks。　This　
manoeuvre　was　totally　unperceived　on　the　part　of　the　three　duns；　and；　
jumping　into　the　car；　I　immediately　cut　the　single　cord　which　held　me　
to　the　earth；　and　was　pleased　to　find　that　I　shot　upward；　carrying　
with　all　ease　one　hundred　and　seventy…five　pounds　of　leaden　ballast；　
and　able　to　have　carried　up　as　many　more。

〃Scarcely；　however；　had　I　attained　the　height　of　fifty　yards；　when；　
roaring　and　rumbling　up　after　me　in　the　most　horrible　and　tumultuous　
manner；　came　so　dense　a　hurricane　of　fire；　and　smoke；　and　sulphur；　
and　legs　and　arms；　and　gravel；　and　burning　wood；　and　blazing　metal；　
that　my　very　heart　sunk　within　me；　and　I　fell　down　in　the　bottom　of　
the　car；　trembling　with　unmitigated　terror。　Indeed；　I　now　perceived　
that　I　had　entirely　overdone　the　business；　and　that　the　main　
consequences　of　the　shock　were　yet　to　be　experienced。　Accordingly；　in　
less　than　a　second；　I　felt　all　the　blood　in　my　body　rushing　to　my　
temples；　and　immediately　thereupon；　a　concussion；　which　I　shall　never　
forget；　burst　abruptly　through　the　night　and　seemed　to　rip　the　very　
firmament　asunder。　When　I　afterward　had　time　for　reflection；　I　did　
not　fail　to　attribute　the　extreme　violence　of　the　explosion；　as　
regarded　myself；　to　its　proper　cause　　my　situation　directly　above　
it；　and　in　the　line　of　its　greatest　power。　But　at　the　time；　I　thought　
only　of　preserving　my　life。　The　balloon　at　first　collapsed；　then　
furiously　expanded；　then　whirled　round　and　round　with　horrible　
velocity；　and　finally；　reeling　and　staggering　like　a　drunken　man；　
hurled　me　with　great　force　over　the　rim　of　the　car；　and　left　me　
dangling；　at　a　terrific　height；　with　my　head　downward；　and　my　face　
outwards；　by　a　piece　of　slender　cord　about　three　feet　in　length；　
which　hung　accidentally　through　a　crevice　near　the　bottom　of　the　
wicker…work；　and　in　which；　as　I　fell；　my　left　foot　became　most　
providentially　entangled。　It　is　impossible　　utterly　impossible　　
to　form　any　adequate　idea　of