The Van Buren press., 1859-08-03
NO. s..

man, with fcrocious smile. " But first.
(the mailman appeared to bethink hiinself)
/ have my idea. wish to see il can't
find some emotion mp there. | must put
myself astride on the semi-circle.
The mailman indicated with his finger
the upper part OF the balloon. just in
speaking he commenced to climb along
the cords which held the car attached to the
balloon.
Mr. Goddard, who had not before trem-
bled for himself was forced to do SO now,
for the mailman.
But, miserable man, you are going to
Kill yourself. You will be seized with
vertigo
No remarks" hisscl the mailman sciz.
ing him again by the collar, " or l will ut
once pitch yon into the abyss.
"At least observed NJ. Goddard, % al
low ME to put this cord rcusfi your body,
so that you may remain attached TO the
balloon"
| " Be it so. said the madman, who ap-
peared to comprend the utility of the pre-
caution.
This done, furnished with his cord of
safety, the madmau commenced to climb
among the ropes with the agility of a squir-
| rel He reached the balloon, and placed
himself astridc the semi-circle, as he hat.
said. Once there he rent tine air with a
shout of triumph, and drew his knife from
his pocket.
| ':.AVhat are you going to do ?" asked
NJ GODDARD, who feared that he might have
the idea of ripping open the balloon.
| % To make myself comfortable forth
with"
Uttering these words, the mailman cut
slowly the cord of safety which Mr.. God
ard had attached to his body With u
single puff of wind TO shake the balloon,
the miserable creature must roll over the
abyss
:" And now" yelled forth the nadinan.
! laugh. All, robber, you thought to make
me descend. Very well. 1t is you who are
going to tumb.a down in moment and
! quicker than that !"
! NJ GODDARD had not time to make 4 move
,nent, or put in single word Before he
was able to divine the Internal intention Of
| the mailman, the latter, still astride of the
semi-circle, had cut, oh horror, four of th..
cordagcs which suspended the car to the
balloon. The car inclincs horribly--it only
holds by two
A word, single worl," cried n
GODDARD.
"No no pardon Y vociierated the
mailman.
Il do u'a ask for pardon, on the contra
Try"
What is it you wish, then" contin-
ued the madman astonished.
| '' AT this moment, now" continued the
wronau,, Eusricdiy, - we are ut II height cf
| 5000"
| Stop - said the nadman, . that will
be charming to tumble down from such
height"
| g 1t is still too low, !" added NJ GODDARD
| How so 30 asked the madnan, stupe-
| fled.
=" Yes" said NJ GODDARD my expert
ence as an aronaut has taught me that
death is not certain to ensue from II fail of
this elevation. Tumble or no tumble. I
must prefer to fall such height as 20 be
killed outright, than to risk being only
lamed-have the charity to precipitate me
from height OF 5000 feet only
All, that'll do" said the madman.
whom the mention OF more horrible fall
charmed amazingly
| Mons. GODDARD follows hel0ically his pur-
pose, and throws over an enormous quaint
ty Oh ballast. The balloon makes pow
erful bound, and mounts five hundred ie, {
in few seconds. Only--and whilst q .
madman surveys this operation with men
acing air-:hc eronaut thinks to accom-
plish another, in a sense quite contrary.
The quick eye Of Mr.. 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 this
cord, it opens the valve fixed in the upper
part of the balloon for the purpose of al
lowing any excess of the hydrogen gas to
escape, and the result he hoped for was not
long in making itself apparent.
Little by little, the madman becomes
drowsy, asphyxiated, and inscnsible, by
the vapors of the gas which surrounded
him. The madman being sufficiently as
phyxiated for the purpose. NJ. GODDARD a.,
lows the balloon to descend slowly to the
earth. The drama is finished
Arrived on terra .frma, NJ. GODDARD, not
bearing any hatred to the author of his
perilous voyage, hastened to restore him to
animation, and had him conveyed, hands
and feet bound, to the neighboring station.
A CHILD's INFLUENcE.-In Mariposa,
California, there lived large-cycd, beauti-
ful pratler, Mary Cameron. One evening
when all was silent, she looked anxiously