Des Arc citizen., 1859-05-25

The madman indicated with his fnger the upper part of the balloon. Just IF speaking he commenced to climb along the cords which held lhe car attached tc the balloon.
 M. Goddard, who had not before trem- bled for himself, was forced to do so now for the madman.
 Bu, miserable man, you are going 10 | kill yourself. You will be seized with vertigo.
 l" No remarks" hissed the madman, seizlng him again by the collar, "or will at once pitch you into the abyss.
 "At least, observed M. Goddard " al- low me to put this cord round your body, so that you may remain attached 10 the balloon.' ,
 :. Be it so, said the madman, who ap- peared to comprehend the utility ol the pfecaution.
 This done. furnished with his cord of safety the madman commenced to climb among the ropes with the agillty oi a squirrel. He reached the balloon, and placed himself aslrlde the semlcirce, as he had said Once there, he rent the air with shout of triumph, and drew his knife from hls pocket.
 What are you going to dog asked NJ. Goddard, who feared that he might hare the idea of ripping open the balloon,
 To make myself comfortable forth with
 unering these words, the madman cut slowly the cord of safety which M. Go dafd had attached to his body With . single puff of wind to shake the balloon, the miserable creature must roll over the abyss!
 "And now" yelled forth the madman, brandishing his knife, we are going to laugh. An, robber, you thought to make me descend! Very well. Itis you who are going to tumble down, and that in a mo- nent, and quicker than that!'
 NJ. Goddard had not time to make a movement, or put in single word. Be- fore he was able to divine the infegnaI intention of the madman, the latter still astride of the semicircle, had cut-oh, horror -four of the cordages which sus- pended the car to the balloon. The car inclines horribly-it only holds by two.
 A word, a single word,' cried NJ. Goddard.
 No, no pardon vociferated the mad man.
 "I do not ask for pardon, on the con trary.''
 "What is it you wish, then?' said the mailman. astonisbed
 :" At this moment now" continued the pronaut, hurriedly, " we are al height of 5000 feet"
 Stop" said the madman, ]" that will be charming to tumble from such a height v
 IL is still too low" added NJ. Goddard
 :. How so 2 asked the madman, stupe- fled.
 "Yes," said M. Goddard, " my experi- ence as an aronaut has taught me that death is not certain 10 ensue from ia!l ol this elevation. Tumble or no tumble, 1 must prefer to fall such a height as to be killed, outright, rather than to risk beng only amed have the charity 10 precIpl- tate me from a height of 5000 feet only"
 "Ah! that'il do," said the madman, whom the mention ot more horrible fail charmed amazingly.
 Mons. Goddard follows herolcally his purpose, aud throws over an enormous quantity of ballast The balloon makes a powerful bound, and mounts 500 feet ln a few seconds only. And whilst the mad man surveys this operation with mena- cing air, the aronaut thinks to accomplish another, in sense quite contrary.
 The quick eye of M. Goddard had re- marked that among the cords spared by the madman figured the one leading to the valve. His plan Is taken. He draws his cord it opens the valve fixed in the upper part of the balloon for the purpose of allowing any excess of the hydrogen gas to escape. and the result which he hoped for was not long in making itself apparent.
 Little by lttle the madman became drowsy, asphyxiated, and insenslbe by the yapors of ihe gas which surrounds him. The madman being sufficiently as- phyxated for his purpose, Mons Goddard allows the balloon 10 descend slowly to the earth. The drama is finished
 Arriving on terra firma, M Goddard not bearing any hatred to the author of hls perilous voyage, hastened to restore him to animation, and had him conveyed hands and feet bound, to the neighboring station.
 WHEN DEATH CONES Death comes at morn when the sun is just rising in the east-at noon when it's rays are most re- splendent--at eve when 1t gradually sink: behind the horizon-at midnight when t ]: entirely hid from view; it comes to the babe just commencing to pratlle-it comes to the man in middle age, when the con. meeting links binding us to life ere mos strong-it comes to the aged man witt trembling limbs and faded eyesght, led along by oihers-it comes 10 the poor struggling to obtain a meagre sustenanct ii comes 10 man in comfortable cir. cumsances, by whom life Is best enjoyed it comes to the wealthy, rolling in afflu ences and ease--it comes 10 the idiot laughing at his own folly-it comes to the