the mastery of the air(²Ù×Ý¿ÕÆø)-µÚ2ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
were¡¡not¡¡far¡¡wrong¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡time¡¡they¡¡imagined¡¡that¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡they¡¡had¡¡used¡¡
generated¡¡some¡¡special¡¡gas£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡they¡¡could¡¡find¡¡out¡¡the¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡this¡¡
gas£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡means¡¡of¡¡making¡¡it¡¡in¡¡large¡¡quantities£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡
add¡¡to¡¡their¡¡success¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Of¡¡course£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡modern¡¡knowledge£»¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡strange¡¡that¡¡the¡¡
brothers¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡that¡¡the¡¡reason¡¡the¡¡bags¡¡rose£»¡¡was¡¡not¡¡because¡¡of¡¡
any¡¡special¡¡gas¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡¡¡¡¡used£»¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡owing¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡expansion¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡air¡¡under¡¡the¡¡
influence¡¡of¡¡heat£»¡¡whereby¡¡hot¡¡air¡¡tends¡¡to¡¡rise¡£¡¡Every¡¡schoolboy¡¡above¡¡the¡¡
age¡¡of¡¡twelve¡¡knows¡¡that¡¡hot¡¡air¡¡rises¡¡upwards¡¡in¡¡the¡¡atmosphere£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡
it¡¡continues¡¡to¡¡rise¡¡until¡¡its¡¡temperature¡¡has¡¡become¡¡the¡¡same¡¡as¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
surrounding¡¡air¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡next¡¡experiment¡¡was¡¡to¡¡try¡¡their¡¡bags¡¡in¡¡the¡¡open¡¡air¡£¡¡Choosing¡¡a¡¡
calm£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fine¡¡¡¡day£»¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡fire¡¡¡¡similar¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡used¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡first¡¡
experiments£»¡¡and¡¡succeeded¡¡in¡¡making¡¡the¡¡bag¡¡rise¡¡nearly¡¡100¡¡feet¡£¡¡Later¡¡
on£»¡¡a¡¡much¡¡larger¡¡craft¡¡was¡¡built£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡equally¡¡successful¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡leave¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡experiments¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Montgolfiers¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
moment£»¡¡and¡¡turn¡¡to¡¡the¡¡discovery¡¡of¡¡hydrogen¡¡gas¡¡by¡¡Henry¡¡Cavendish£»¡¡a¡¡
well¡known¡¡London¡¡chemist¡£¡¡In¡¡1766¡¡Cavendish¡¡proved¡¡conclusively¡¡that¡¡
hydrogen¡¡gas¡¡was¡¡not¡¡more¡¡than¡¡one¡seventh¡¡the¡¡weight¡¡of¡¡ordinary¡¡air¡£¡¡It¡¡
at¡¡once¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Black£»¡¡of¡¡Glasgow£»¡¡that¡¡if¡¡a¡¡thin¡¡bag¡¡could¡¡be¡¡filled¡¡
with¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡light¡¡¡¡¡¡gas¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡rise¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡air£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡various¡¡¡¡¡¡reasons¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
experiments¡¡did¡¡not¡¡yield¡¡results¡¡of¡¡a¡¡practical¡¡nature¡¡for¡¡several¡¡years¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Some¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡afterwards£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡year¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Montgolfiers¡¡
commenced¡¡their¡¡experiments¡¡which¡¡we¡¡have¡¡already¡¡described£»¡¡Tiberius¡¡
Cavallo£»¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Italian¡¡¡¡¡¡chemist£»¡¡¡¡¡¡succeeded¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡making£»¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡hydrogen¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡gas£»¡¡
soap¡bubbles¡¡which¡¡rose¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air¡£¡¡Previous¡¡to¡¡this¡¡he¡¡had¡¡experimented¡¡
with¡¡bladders¡¡and¡¡paper¡¡bags£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡bladders¡¡he¡¡found¡¡too¡¡heavy£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡
paper¡¡too¡¡porous¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡must¡¡not¡¡be¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Montgolfiers¡¡experimented¡¡solely¡¡with¡¡
hot¡¡air¡¡in¡¡the¡¡inflation¡¡of¡¡their¡¡balloons¡£¡¡At¡¡one¡¡time¡¡they¡¡used¡¡steam£»¡¡and£»¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡7¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡8¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MASTERY¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡AIR¡¡
later¡¡¡¡on£»¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡newly¡discovered¡¡hydrogen¡¡¡¡¡¡gas£»¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡both¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡agents¡¡
they¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡unsuccessful¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡can¡¡¡¡¡¡easily¡¡¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡¡¡¡¡why¡¡¡¡steam¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡use£»¡¡
when¡¡we¡¡consider¡¡that¡¡paper¡¡was¡¡employed£»¡¡hydrogen£»¡¡too£»¡¡owed¡¡its¡¡lack¡¡
of¡¡success¡¡to¡¡the¡¡same¡¡cause¡¡for¡¡the¡¡porosity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡paper¡¡allowed¡¡the¡¡gas¡¡
to¡¡escape¡¡quickly¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡name¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨balloon¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡given¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡paper¡¡¡¡¡¡craft¡¡
because¡¡they¡¡resembled¡¡in¡¡shape¡¡a¡¡large¡¡spherical¡¡vessel¡¡used¡¡in¡¡chemistry£»¡¡
which¡¡was¡¡known¡¡by¡¡that¡¡name¡£¡¡To¡¡the¡¡brothers¡¡Montgolfier¡¡belongs¡¡the¡¡
honour¡¡of¡¡having¡¡given¡¡the¡¡name¡¡to¡¡this¡¡type¡¡of¡¡aircraft£»¡¡which£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡two¡¡
succeeding¡¡centuries£»¡¡became¡¡so¡¡popular¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡After¡¡¡¡¡¡numerous¡¡¡¡¡¡experiments¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡public¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡invited¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡witness¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
inflation¡¡of¡¡a¡¡particularly¡¡huge¡¡balloon£»¡¡over¡¡30¡¡feet¡¡in¡¡diameter¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡
accomplished¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡fire¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡wool¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡straw¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡ascent¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
successful£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡balloon£»¡¡after¡¡rising¡¡to¡¡a¡¡height¡¡of¡¡some¡¡7000¡¡feet£»¡¡fell¡¡
to¡¡earth¡¡about¡¡two¡¡miles¡¡away¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡may¡¡be¡¡imagined¡¡that¡¡this¡¡experiment¡¡aroused¡¡enormous¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡
Paris£»¡¡¡¡¡¡whence¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡news¡¡¡¡¡¡rapidly¡¡¡¡spread¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡France¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Britain¡£¡¡A¡¡
Parisian¡¡¡¡¡¡scientific¡¡¡¡¡¡society¡¡¡¡¡¡invited¡¡¡¡¡¡Stephen¡¡¡¡¡¡Montgolfier¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Paris¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡order¡¡
that¡¡the¡¡citizens¡¡of¡¡the¡¡metropolis¡¡should¡¡have¡¡their¡¡imaginations¡¡excited¡¡
by¡¡seeing¡¡the¡¡hero¡¡of¡¡these¡¡remarkable¡¡experiments¡£¡¡Montgolfier¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡
rich¡¡¡¡¡¡man£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡enable¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡continue¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡experiments¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡society¡¡
granted¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡considerable¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sum¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡money¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡enabled¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
construct¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡fine¡¡¡¡¡¡balloon£»¡¡¡¡¡¡elaborately¡¡¡¡¡¡decorated¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡painted£»¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡
ascended¡¡at¡¡Versailles¡¡in¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Court¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡add¡¡to¡¡the¡¡value¡¡of¡¡this¡¡experiment¡¡three¡¡animals¡¡were¡¡sent¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡
basket¡¡attached¡¡to¡¡the¡¡balloon¡£¡¡These¡¡were¡¡a¡¡sheep£»¡¡a¡¡cock£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡duck¡£¡¡All¡¡
sorts¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡guesses¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡fate¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨poor¡¡
creatures¡¨¡£¡¡Some¡¡people¡¡imagined¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡little¡¡or¡¡no¡¡air¡¡in¡¡those¡¡
higher¡¡regions¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡animals¡¡would¡¡choke£»¡¡others¡¡said¡¡they¡¡would¡¡
be¡¡frozen¡¡to¡¡death¡£¡¡But¡¡when¡¡the¡¡balloon¡¡descended¡¡the¡¡cock¡¡was¡¡seen¡¡to¡¡
be¡¡strutting¡¡about¡¡in¡¡his¡¡usual¡¡dignified¡¡way£»¡¡the¡¡sheep¡¡was¡¡chewing¡¡the¡¡
cud£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡duck¡¡was¡¡quacking¡¡for¡¡water¡¡and¡¡worms¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡this¡¡point¡¡we¡¡will¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡the¡¡brothers¡¡Montgolfier¡£¡¡They¡¡
had¡¡succeeded¡¡in¡¡firing¡¡the¡¡imagination¡¡of¡¡nearly¡¡every¡¡Frenchman£»¡¡from¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡8¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡9¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MASTERY¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡AIR¡¡
King¡¡¡¡¡¡Louis¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡humblest¡¡¡¡¡¡subject¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Strange£»¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡not£»¡¡¡¡¡¡though¡¡
scores¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡millions¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡people¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡seen¡¡¡¡¡¡smoke¡¡¡¡¡¡rise£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡clouds¡¡¡¡¡¡float£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡
untold¡¡¡¡¡¡centuries£»¡¡¡¡¡¡yet¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡one£»¡¡¡¡¡¡until¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡close¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡eighteenth¡¡¡¡¡¡century£»¡¡
thought¡¡of¡¡making¡¡a¡¡balloon£¿¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡learned¡¡Franciscan¡¡friar£»¡¡Roger¡¡Bacon£»¡¡who¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡the¡¡thirteenth¡¡
century£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡seems¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡thought¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡possibility¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡producing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
contrivance¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡float¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡air¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡idea¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡earth's¡¡
atmosphere¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨true¡¡¡¡¡¡fluid¡¨£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡upper¡¡¡¡¡¡surface¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
ocean¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡quite¡¡¡¡¡¡believed¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡upper¡¡¡¡¡¡surfacesubject£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
belief£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡waves¡¡¡¡¡¡similar¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡those¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡seaan¡¡¡¡¡¡air¡ship¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡float¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡
once¡¡succeeded¡¡in¡¡rising¡¡to¡¡the¡¡required¡¡height¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡difficulty¡¡was¡¡to¡¡
reach¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡this¡¡aerial¡¡sea¡£¡¡To¡¡do¡¡this¡¡he¡¡proposed¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡large¡¡
hollow¡¡globe¡¡of¡¡metal£»¡¡wrought¡¡as¡¡thin¡¡as¡¡the¡¡skill¡¡of¡¡man¡¡could¡¡make¡¡it£»¡¡
so¡¡that¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡as¡¡light¡¡as¡¡possible£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡vast¡¡globe¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡filled¡¡
with¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨liquid¡¡¡¡¡¡fire¡¨¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Just¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨liquid¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fire¡¨¡¡¡¡was£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡cannot¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡attempt¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
explain£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡doubtful¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡Bacon¡¡¡¡¡¡himself¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡clear¡¡¡¡¡¡idea¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
doubtless¡¡¡¡¡¡thought¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡gaseous¡¡¡¡¡¡substance¡¡¡¡lighter¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡air£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡seem¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡have£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡least£»¡¡¡¡¡¡hit¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡principle¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡underlying¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
construction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡modern¡¡balloon¡£¡¡Roger¡¡Bacon¡¡had¡¡ideas¡¡far¡¡in¡¡advance¡¡
of¡¡his¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡experiments¡¡made¡¡such¡¡an¡¡impression¡¡of¡¡wonder¡¡on¡¡
the¡¡popular¡¡mind¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡believed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡wrought¡¡by¡¡black¡¡magic£»¡¡
and¡¡the¡¡worthy¡¡monk¡¡was¡¡classed¡¡among¡¡those¡¡who¡¡were¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡
in¡¡league¡¡with¡¡Satan¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡9¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡10¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MASTERY¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡AIR¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡CHAPTER¡¡III¡¡The¡¡First¡¡Man¡¡to¡¡Ascend¡¡in¡¡a¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Balloon¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡safe¡¡descent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡three¡¡animals£»¡¡which¡¡has¡¡already¡¡been¡¡related£»¡¡
showed¡¡the¡¡way¡¡for¡¡man¡¡to¡¡venture¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡balloon¡£¡¡In¡¡our¡¡time¡¡we¡¡marvel¡¡
at¡¡the¡¡daring¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡modern¡¡airmen£»¡¡¡¡who¡¡ascend¡¡¡¡to¡¡giddy¡¡heights£»¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡
were£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡engage¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡mortal¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡combat¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡demons¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡air¡£¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡
courageous¡¡though¡¡these¡¡deeds¡¡are£»¡¡they¡¡are¡¡not¡¡more¡¡so¡¡than¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
pioneers¡¡of¡¡ballooning¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡eighteenth¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡century¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡nothing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡known¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡definitely¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡
conditions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡regions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡where£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡no¡¡human¡¡being¡¡
had¡¡ever¡¡been£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡the¡¡frail¡¡Montgolfier¡¡balloons¡¡had¡¡ascended¡¡and¡¡
descended¡¡with¡¡no¡¡outward¡¡happenings£»¡¡yet¡¡none¡¡could¡¡tell¡¡what¡¡might¡¡be¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡risk¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡committing¡¡¡¡¡¡oneself¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡ascent¡£¡¡There¡¡¡¡¡¡was£»¡¡¡¡too£»¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡
special¡¡¡¡¡¡danger¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡making¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡ascent¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡hot¡air¡¡¡¡¡¡balloon¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Underneath¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
huge¡¡envelope¡¡was¡¡suspended¡¡a¡¡brazier£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡the¡¡fabric¡¡of¡¡the¡¡balloon¡¡
was¡¡in¡¡great¡¡danger¡¡of¡¡catching¡¡fire¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡at¡¡first¡¡suggested¡¡that¡¡two¡¡French¡¡criminals¡¡under¡¡sentence¡¡of¡¡
death¡¡should¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡sent¡¡¡¡¡¡up£»¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡¡¡made¡¡a¡¡¡¡safe¡¡descent£»¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡way¡¡
would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡open¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡other¡¡¡¡¡¡aeronauts¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡venture¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡aloft¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡everyone¡¡
interested¡¡in¡¡aeronautics¡¡in¡¡those¡¡days¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡the¡¡man¡¡who¡¡first¡¡traversed¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡unexplored¡¡¡¡¡¡regions¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡air¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡held¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡high¡¡¡¡¡¡honour£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡
seemed¡¡hardly¡¡right¡¡that¡¡this¡¡honour¡¡should¡¡fall¡¡to¡¡criminals¡£¡¡At¡¡any¡¡rate¡¡
this¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡view¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡M¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Pilatre¡¡¡¡¡¡de¡¡¡¡¡¡Rozier£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡French¡¡¡¡¡¡gentleman£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
determined¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡pioneer¡¡ascent¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡De¡¡Rozier¡¡had¡¡no¡¡false¡¡notion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡risks¡¡he¡¡was¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡run£»¡¡and¡¡
he¡¡superintended¡¡with¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡care¡¡the¡¡construction¡¡of¡¡his¡¡balloon¡£¡¡It¡¡
was¡¡of¡¡enormous¡¡size£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cage¡¡slung¡¡underneath¡¡the¡¡brazier¡¡for¡¡heating¡¡
the¡¡air¡£¡¡Befors¡¡making¡¡his¡¡free¡¡ascent¡¡De¡¡Rozier¡¡made¡¡a¡¡trial¡¡ascent¡¡with¡¡
the¡¡balloon¡¡held¡¡captive¡¡by¡¡a¡¡long¡¡rope¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡length£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡November£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡1783£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡accompanied¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Marquis¡¡
d'Arlandes¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡passenger£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡determined¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡venture¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡experiment¡¡
aroused¡¡¡¡¡¡immense¡¡¡¡¡¡excitement¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡France£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡large¡¡¡¡¡¡concourse¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡10¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡11¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MASTERY¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡AIR¡¡
people¡¡were¡¡gathered¡¡together¡¡on¡¡the¡¡outskirts¡¡of¡¡Paris¡¡to¡¡witness¡¡the¡¡risky¡¡
feat¡£¡¡The¡¡balloon¡¡made¡¡a¡¡perfect¡¡ascent£»¡¡and¡¡quickly¡¡reached¡¡a¡¡height¡¡of¡¡
about¡¡¡¡¡¡half¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡mile¡¡¡¡¡¡above¡¡¡¡¡¡sea¡level¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡¡¡strong¡¡¡¡¡¡current¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡air¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡upper¡¡
regions¡¡caused¡¡the¡¡balloon¡¡to¡¡take¡¡an¡¡opposite¡¡direction¡¡from¡¡that¡¡intended£»¡¡
and¡¡the¡¡aeronauts¡¡drifted¡¡right¡¡over¡¡Paris¡£¡¡It¡¡would¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡hard¡¡with¡¡
them¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡forced¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡descend¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡city£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡craft¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
driven¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡to¡¡some¡¡distance¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡suburbs¡¡and¡¡they¡¡alighted¡¡
quite¡¡safely¡¡about¡¡six¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡their¡¡starting¡point£»¡¡after¡¡having¡¡been¡¡up¡¡
in¡¡the¡¡air¡¡for¡¡about¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Their¡¡voyage£»¡¡however£»¡¡had¡¡by¡¡no¡¡means¡¡been¡¡free¡¡from¡¡anxiety¡£¡¡We¡¡
are¡¡told¡¡that¡¡the¡¡fabric¡¡of¡¡the¡¡balloon¡¡repeatedly¡¡caught¡¡fire£»¡¡which¡¡it¡¡took¡¡
the¡¡aeronauts¡¡all¡¡their¡¡time¡¡to¡¡extinguish¡£¡¡At¡¡times£»¡¡too£»¡¡they¡¡came¡¡down¡¡
perilously¡¡near¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Seine£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡the¡¡housetops¡¡of¡¡Paris£»¡¡but¡¡after¡¡the¡¡most¡¡
exciting¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡half¡hour¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡lives¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡themselves¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡once¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡
Mother¡¡Earth¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Here¡¡we¡¡must¡¡make¡¡a¡¡slight¡¡digression¡¡and¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡the¡¡invention¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡hydrogen£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡gas£»¡¡¡¡¡¡balloon¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡previous¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡chapter¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡read¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡
discovery¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡hydrogen¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡gas¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡Henr