The Osceola times., 1878-09-14
B.ll...,.s VIII . L.assie.
,c.rsspeaa.ss. q .hs s.l.lnor. spa.

mere u tne l8&t DaliOOu etOTv. M.
GODDARD, In his last journey to the clouds
but one, was accompanied by a single
fellow traveller, who had paid one thous-
and francs for the privilege Of place
by the side of the celebrated aeronaut.
The weather was splendid, and the
balloon had reached a considerable
height.
"What effect has ii on your inquired
Mr.. GODDARD Of his companion.
"None whatever" was the curt reply.
81 must complimen you," said Mr..
GODDARD. "You are the first amateur /
have ever known to resch this altitude
without experiencing any emotion"
"Go higher" said the amateur coolly.
NJ. GODDARD threw out the ballast, and
the balloon few up some sixty yards
higher.
"Now, how do you fee? %
"Just "A usual" said his companion
In rather a petulant tone.
"By Jovep exclaimed Mr.. GODDARD,
"you're born aeronaut, SIR"
The balloon kept on rising, and when
a few hundred yards higher, Mr..
GODDARD, for the third lime, questioned
his companion as to his emotions.
Emotions! not trace of emotion"
replied he, with the tone of man who
feels that he has been taken in.
"Well 20 much the worse" said the
aeronsut. al see shall not be abe to
alarm you; we have risen high enough,
and we shall now descend"
Descend?'
eyes, certainly; it would be danger
ous to g, higher"
al don't care about the danger, and |
don't choose to descend. Pm going
higher, / am. l paid one thousand
francs in order 10 experience some emo
tions ! will have before going down
again."
M. GODDARD burst out laughing. He
thought the man was joking.
Are you going up higher or not"
said the companion, at the same time
grasping NJ. GODDARD by the throat and
shaking him violently. / intend to
have my emotions"
NJ. GODDARD saw at a glance that he
had to dc with madman. The dilated
eyes, the furious grasp, the very tone of
his voice left no doubt about that.
But what was to be doneY They were
some three thousand feet high among
the clouds, a struggle was out of the
question, as one violent motion of the
msdman would be enough to upset the
car. All these thoughts passed through
NJ. Godard's mind in less than a second.
His adversary was a powerful man, and
without loosing his grasp, he called OUT
All, my fine fellow, you have been
playing the fool with me. iou have
made me pay one thousand francs and
not given me single emotion"
"Well, but what would you have me
dog' asked NJ. GODDARD, calmly and
soothingly.
al am going to throw you over" said
the madman, with wild laugh; but
first an idea strikes me; I'll go to the
top Of the balloon" and, suiting the
action TO the word, he jumped into the
rigging of the car.
"But my poor FRIEND" said the
aeronaut, "youll kill yourself like
that
The madman uttered threat. "At
least" said NJ. GODDARD, "let me put a
rope around your waist to prevent an
accident"
We'll be it so," said the madman,
who seemed TO see the necessity of some
precsution, and the rope having been
attached he recommended climbing the
rigging of the balloon with the agility
Of squirrel, and in few moments was
seated on the apex, clapping his hands
and shouting with joy. All at once he
takes out his pocket knife and brandish-
ing it above his head, yells out: "Now,
you rascal you wanted to descend, did
you? So you shall, with vengeance
and before M. GODDARD can utter word,
four out of the six ropes attaching the
car to the balloon are cut, and the car
itself swinging helplessly outside. The
madman's knife was now touching the
other two, when the aeronaut calls out
to him: "Stop, one word"
No. M! down you go"
But let me tell you something, my
friend, we are only three thousand feet
high, it is true, but that is not high
enough for thoroughly good fall"
"What do you mean?" asked the
madman, confusedly.
al mean this, that fall of only three
hundred feet might not kill me and
prefer being killed to being crippled.
Oblige me, therefore by waiting until
we rise three or four thousand feet
higher.
"Agreedw said the madman, who
seemed to enjoy the idea of so prodig-
ious fall.
The aeronaut keeps to his word; he
throws out nearly the whole of his bal
last, and the balloon shoots up rapidly.
But while the man is attentivey watch
ing this operation, NJ. GODDARD observes
that among the cordages as yet un-
touched is the pulley Of the gas escape
He gently draw. the cord, and the gas
begins to escape Immediately under the
spot where the lunatic is perched. In
few moments the combined effects of
the gas and the now intensely rariied
air are apparent, and the mailman sinks
into state Of lethargy. The aeronaut
cautiously brings down his balloon, and
the terrible crisis is ended.