the works of edgar allan poe-1-第9节
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soon as circumstances would permit； I gave her what little money I
had left； and bade her farewell。 Indeed I had no fear on her account。
She was what people call a notable woman； and could manage matters in
the world without my assistance。 I believe； to tell the truth； she
always looked upon me as an idle boy； a mere make…weight； good for
nothing but building castles in the air； and was rather glad to get
rid of me。 It was a dark night when I bade her good…bye； and taking
with me； as aides…de…camp； the three creditors who had given me so
much trouble； we carried the balloon； with the car and accoutrements；
by a roundabout way； to the station where the other articles were
deposited。 We there found them all unmolested； and I proceeded
immediately to business。
〃It was the first of April。 The night； as I said before； was dark；
there was not a star to be seen； and a drizzling rain； falling at
intervals； rendered us very uncomfortable。 But my chief anxiety was
concerning the balloon； which； in spite of the varnish with which it
was defended； began to grow rather heavy with the moisture； the
powder also was liable to damage。 I therefore kept my three duns
working with great diligence； pounding down ice around the central
cask； and stirring the acid in the others。 They did not cease；
however； importuning me with questions as to what I intended to do
with all this apparatus； and expressed much dissatisfaction at the
terrible labor I made them undergo。 They could not perceive； so they
said； what good was likely to result from their getting wet to the
skin； merely to take a part in such horrible incantations。 I began to
get uneasy； and worked away with all my might； for I verily believe
the idiots supposed that I had entered into a compact with the devil；
and that； in short； what I was now doing was nothing better than it
should be。 I was； therefore； in great fear of their leaving me
altogether。 I contrived； however； to pacify them by promises of
payment of all scores in full； as soon as I could bring the present
business to a termination。 To these speeches they gave； of course；
their own interpretation； fancying； no doubt； that at all events I
should come into possession of vast quantities of ready money； and
provided I paid them all I owed； and a trifle more； in consideration
of their services； I dare say they cared very little what became of
either my soul or my carcass。
〃In about four hours and a half I found the balloon sufficiently
inflated。 I attached the car； therefore； and put all my implements in
it not forgetting the condensing apparatus； a copious supply of
water； and a large quantity of provisions； such as pemmican； in which
much nutriment is contained in comparatively little bulk。 I also
secured in the car a pair of pigeons and a cat。 It was now nearly
daybreak； and I thought it high time to take my departure。 Dropping a
lighted cigar on the ground； as if by accident； I took the
opportunity； in stooping to pick it up； of igniting privately the
piece of slow match； whose end； as I said before； protruded a very
little beyond the lower rim of one of the smaller casks。 This
manoeuvre was totally unperceived on the part of the three duns； and；
jumping into the car； I immediately cut the single cord which held me
to the earth； and was pleased to find that I shot upward； carrying
with all ease one hundred and seventy…five pounds of leaden ballast；
and able to have carried up as many more。
〃Scarcely； however； had I attained the height of fifty yards； when；
roaring and rumbling up after me in the most horrible and tumultuous
manner； came so dense a hurricane of fire； and smoke； and sulphur；
and legs and arms； and gravel； and burning wood； and blazing metal；
that my very heart sunk within me； and I fell down in the bottom of
the car； trembling with unmitigated terror。 Indeed； I now perceived
that I had entirely overdone the business； and that the main
consequences of the shock were yet to be experienced。 Accordingly； in
less than a second； I felt all the blood in my body rushing to my
temples； and immediately thereupon； a concussion； which I shall never
forget； burst abruptly through the night and seemed to rip the very
firmament asunder。 When I afterward had time for reflection； I did
not fail to attribute the extreme violence of the explosion； as
regarded myself； to its proper cause my situation directly above
it； and in the line of its greatest power。 But at the time； I thought
only of preserving my life。 The balloon at first collapsed； then
furiously expanded； then whirled round and round with horrible
velocity； and finally； reeling and staggering like a drunken man；
hurled me with great force over the rim of the car； and left me
dangling； at a terrific height； with my head downward； and my face
outwards； by a piece of slender cord about three feet in length；
which hung accidentally through a crevice near the bottom of the
wicker…work； and in which； as I fell； my left foot became most
providentially entangled。 It is impossible utterly impossible
to form any adequate idea of the horror of my situation。 I gasped
convulsively for breath a shudder resembling a fit of the ague
agitated every nerve and muscle of my frame I felt my eyes
starting from their sockets a horrible nausea overwhelmed me
and at length I fainted away。
〃How long I remained in this state it is impossible to say。 It must；
however； have been no inconsiderable time； for when I partially
recovered the sense of existence； I found the day breaking； the
balloon at a prodigious height over a wilderness of ocean； and not a
trace of land to be discovered far and wide within the limits of the
vast horizon。 My sensations； however； upon thus recovering； were by
no means so rife with agony as might have been anticipated。 Indeed；
there was much of incipient madness in the calm survey which I began
to take of my situation。 I drew up to my eyes each of my hands； one
after the other； and wondered what occurrence could have given rise
to the swelling of the veins； and the horrible blackness of the
fingemails。 I afterward carefully examined my head； shaking it
repeatedly； and feeling it with minute attention； until I succeeded
in satisfying myself that it was not； as I had more than half
suspected； larger than my balloon。 Then； in a knowing manner； I felt
in both my breeches pockets； and； missing therefrom a set of tablets
and a toothpick case； endeavored to account for their disappearance；
and not being able to do so； felt inexpressibly chagrined。 It now
occurred to me that I suffered great uneasiness in the joint of my
left ankle； and a dim consciousness of my situation began to glimmer
through my mind。 But； strange to say！ I was neither astonished nor
horror…stricken。 If I felt any emotion at all； it was a kind of
chuckling satisfaction at the cleverness I was about to display in
extricating myself from this dilemma； and I never； for a moment；
looked upon my ultimate safety as a question susceptible of doubt。
For a few minutes I remained wrapped in the profoundest meditation。 I
have a distinct recollection of frequently compressing my lips；
putting my forefinger to the side of my nose； and making use of other
gesticulations and grimaces common to men who； at ease in their
arm…chairs； meditate upon matters of intricacy or importance。 Having；
as I thought； sufficiently collected my ideas； I now； with great
caution and deliberation； put my hands behind my back； and unfastened
the large iron buckle which belonged to the waistband of my
inexpressibles。 This buckle had three teeth； which； being somewhat
rusty； turned with great difficulty on their axis。 I brought them；
however； after some trouble； at right angles to the body of the
buckle； and was glad to find them remain firm in that position。
Holding the instrument thus obtained within my teeth； I now proceeded
to untie the knot of my cravat。 I had to rest several times before I
could accomplish this manoeuvre； but it was at length accomplished。
To one end of the cravat I then made fast the buckle； and the other
end I tied； for greater security； tightly around my wrist。 Drawing
now my body upwards； with a prodigious exertion of muscular force； I
succeeded； at the very first trial； in throwing the buckle over the
car； and entangling it； as I had anticipated； in the circular rim of
the wicker…work。
〃My body was now inclined towards the side of the car； at an angle of
about forty…five degrees； but it must not be understood that I was
therefore only forty…five degrees below the perpendicular。 So far
from it； I still lay nearly level with the plane of the horizon； for
the change of situation which I had acquired； had forced the bottom
of the car considerably outwards from my position； which was
accordingly one of the most imminent and deadly peril。 It should be
remembered； however； that when I fell in the first instance； from the
car； if I had fallen with my face turned toward the balloon； instead
of turned outwardly from it； as it actually was； or if； in the second
p
