Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-11-02

him to convey me tbither in his i'm
mense balloon.
1 was at first surprised at this strang0
proposal, but the thought of a delight
fuI journey Of some twenty miles be
tween heaven and earth, on a pleasan
day was to me both novel and interest
| ing, and I readily assented. But al
the wind was not favorable that day
we postponed the journey until the
next. DeLacy expressed his opinion
that It would be fine day, and that
the wind would be in a nOrtherly di-
rection-toward Paris.
True to his conjecture it was favor
able, and by eight o'clock In the morn
I ing, his immense balloon. Comet.
was being inflated in the spacious
] grounds adjoining his residence
/ Many of the inhabitants having heard
I of our intended ascension. had begun
| to assemble on the grounds, and with
/ In three hours some three hundred
| spectators we're present.
Finally everything was in readiness
| for the start, and the ropes were about
TO be cut loose. We had taken our
seats In the finely furnished car, and
we're in excellent spirits, In contempla-
ton Of a splendid journey.
DeLacy had provided a sufficient
number of warm garments, In which
we were to array ourselves when we
reached that altitude where they would
be needed to protect our ferns from
the cold My friend was about to give
the word to let go, when a commotiOn
was heard among the assembled crowd,
and finally a tall man dressed in deep
black, with the exception of a high
comical white hat, emerged to view,
shouting
Hold hold
DeLaey made a gesture to that effect,
and as the individual approached the
car, he asked
What is 1t, my man
So l understand that you are starting
for Paris, was the reply.
We are, sir.
Have you any objections to take a
passenger aeronaut by profession.
[ desire to take a final balloon trip ere
I leave for the United States. I should
enjoy 1t very much, and as I am going
to Paris, L venture to ask permission
to accompany you.
" Very well, Mons.-what may I
call your name ?' asked DeLaey.
name. L have resided IN Bordeaux
until lately"
All, yes, I have heard of you,
exclaimed DeLacy cordially. " As a
professional brother, l am happy to
accede to your request. My car Is at
your service, sir.
While this brief conversation was
going on I carefully studied the face of
. "a
pleased with his appearance. There
was a strange wildness in his eye,
which made me think of all the mani
acs [ ever read Of. From the first
glance I conceived a dislike for the
man.
A strange presentment came over
me that danger was In store for US;
and when they had ceased talking, and
the stranger commenced climbing into
the car, so strong did that feeling be-
come that [ would have demonstrated,
but the cordial manner of DeLacy par
TALLY dampened the courage 1 had
mustered to express my fears, and l
contented myselfwith keeping the fur
ther corner of the car.
When DeLacy was ready he gave
word, and the ropes that held the i'm
patient monster to the earth we're cast
off, and with a sudden bound we shot
up towards the deep blue sky, amid
the enthusiastic cheers of the multi
tude. had never before entered
balloon, and I never shall forget the
feeling / experienced as we scared up
ward into space, while the numerous
dOmes, church spires, and the resi-
dences of D rapidly grew smaller
and smaller to the eye.
The people below US, as we sailed
over the city, appeared like so many
ants crawling along the street, and IN
a short time we left them far behind.
As we attained a certain hight, a
current Of cool air struck the balloon,
and bore US away in a n0rtherly direc-
ton, over that thriving field Of France.
No rough motion was perceptible in
our conveyance, we sailed along with
gentle undulatiBg speed, which ena-
bled US to view the scenery below with
perfect ease.
So fascinated was [ with the scene,
that for a considerable length of time
I had no thought of our stranger pas
senger. DeLacy too was so busy watch
ing the world below that he had paid
no attention to him.
4
shoot past me on its way to the earth,
which was instantly followed by ano-
ther, until some seven or eight had
gone down, and began to feel a rapid
rising of the balloon. DeLacy noted
it also, and simultaneously we looked
around. What a sight met our gaze
Our. passenger stood on his feet bare
headed-his hat having been thrown
H. hsr
off while his eyes seemed about burst
ing from their sockets. Never shall l
forget the looks of that man. Froth,
Shiny froth, stood upon his lips, and a
demoniac leer covered his countenance.
His lower jaw had fallen and remained
in that position as if locked. A more
horrid spectacle 1 never witnessed.
He had thrown over the last sand
bag, and thus partially relieved, the
balloon was shooting heavenWard with
great velocity. The cold air rushed
past US with a dull whizzing souud
and chilled our bodies most uncOm-
fortably.
Ore glance satisfied US as to the
character of our friend. He was a
raving maniac [ invOluntarily glanced
at DeLacy. His face mOmentaTily
paled as he realized the truth. He
edged close to me whispering:
What IS to be done ?"
He Is a madman
Can we not secure him ?'' I asked.
No no he would throw himself
overheard, and that would be the end
of him. But see, he has a revolver and
a knife !
True enough. M. Canon had drawn
knife from one pocket in his pants,
and a six-shooter from the other He
hugged them to his bosom, kissed
them and muttered some unintelligible
gibberish, and then pointed them at
US, with a long chuckling laugh,
/" Yes, yes /" he cried in fierce hor-
rible tones that made me start. Yes,
up we'll go to the demons of hell, OF
to the throne of Him Won't my an
gel sister be astonished when we dash
lntn heaven in a mnnatrnms balloon