The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-02-01


inc but the professor explained it by !
saying we had got on of tho current.
"Within half mile us, ,pths pursued,
"thsro are probably at this moment
two strong currents Of air rushing in
exactly opposite directions while, as
you perceive, everything 10 still. It's
thought by some that when these
things como 10 be better undorstood-
when we shall have got them reduced
to science, in fsot-ws shall thea be
able to navigate the air as well as the
water. Well, ladies, what do you say
shall we go above the cloud or below
it?"
eve should like to see it from above,
was the answer. "But, professor, how
can you tell which way you are going
now2"
Thus" no answered, taking a piece
Of paper, making ball about the size
of a pea, and dropping 1t overthe side
Of the car, whore it slowly disappeared
below us. "You sse," he continued,
1--WE are descending, but not so fast as
the paper ball. 1--we were either sta
tionary or ascending, it would leAvsus
much faster and if we were rapidly
descending il would remain alongside
of US"
He then lightened the car few
pounds by emptying bag Of sand, and
we soon shot up above the cloud, and
beheld the sun shining on it. The Of.
fact was very beautiful--thS cloud ap-
pearing from the upper view like an
immense roll of snow-white cotton
We now, in accordance with the prof
fessors remarks, struck another current
Of air, which swiftly bore us away in a
direction opposite to the one by which
we had entered the cloud, and which,
so great was our velocity, was soon
seen afar in the distance.
Twas much interested in seeing from
this upper region the sun set upon the
world below. While it was shining
bright upon US We could see shade af-
ter shade creeping over the face Of the
earth, which grew DINNER and dim
msr, till at last all form and shape dis
appeared, and the eye rested only up
on black, dismal gulf as it might be
the beginning OF the Bottomlsss Pit.
An hour after this, it became quite
dark whore we were, and the rapid
gathering Of a thunder storm, towart
which we were drifting, began to make
the most Of us quite uneasy.
"Had we not better descend at once
before the tempest breaks upon thu
earth ?" was tho anxious question nov
put to the professor.
IF it is the general desire" was th'
obliging ansWer.
1t was the general desire and h
Immediately took hold Of the cord con
nsctsd with tho valve at the top Of tn
balloon to let of the gas. From SOM
cause no could not move it. did no
: notice this at first; but seeing hin
: steadily jerking FOR some minutes AM
apparently becoming nervous and anx
lous, Iasked HIM If thore was any
thing wrong.
!, II fear there Is II he replied, in
{ tons that betrayed good deal of anx
: ETY., not to say alarm "tho valve wi
. not open"
, "Oh, my God" cried one Of tho ID
f dies "what will become of usT'
t "DO not bO frightenedI" !" said th
: professor nsrvously; ~ shall bring
r all right presently"
Q But he did not. In spite Of all b
# could do. the valve remained close,
: and we could not descend. In fact,
: was soon discovered that We had b.
If gun TO ascend. Moreover, We VOL
IS rapidly approaching the black rollin
. stOrm-cloud, and the Lightning WI
10 playing vividly, and thunder roarir
J. heavily,
d In another minute-fvO minutes
'r the most intonsO anxiety fast deepo1
ing into terrors--during which Il
Of professor tugged at the valve cor
70 with great beads of psrSpiration sta
2 ding all over his faoe--in another d
70 minutes, / say we entered the bIac
Is cloud, which closed arou nd us like
ID pail, shutting out every ray OF ligt
10 so that we could not see each oths
g. nor oven oar hands before our eyes
r We now felt our situation 20 be annal