the dominion of the air-第44节
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The afternoon was already far advanced； and the short tropical twilight soon gave way to darkness； when the intrepid voyager disappeared completely from sight。 Excitement was intense that night in Calcutta； and greater still the next day when； as hour after hour went by； no news save a series of wild and false reports reached the city。 Trains arriving from the country brought no intelligence； and telegraphic enquiries sent in all directions proved fruitless。 The Great Eastern Hotel； where the young man had been staying； was literally besieged for hours by a large crowd eager for any tidings。 Then the Press gave expression to the gloomiest forebodings； and the town was in a fever of unrest。 From the direction the balloon had taken it was thought that； even if the aeronaut had descended in safety； he could only have been landed in the jungle of the Sunderbunds； beset with perils； and without a chance of succour。 A large reward was offered for reliable information； and orders were issued to every likely station to organise a search。 But ere this was fully carried into effect messages were telegraphed to England definitely asserting that Mr。 Spencer had lost his life。 For all this； after three days he returned to Calcutta； none the worse for the exploit。
Then the true tale was unravelled。 The balloon had changed its course from S。E。 to E。 after passing out of sight of Calcutta； and eventually came to earth the same evening in the neighbourhood of Hossainabad； thirty…six miles distant。 During his aerial flight the voyager's main trouble had been caused by his cramped position； the galling of his sling seat； and the numbing effect of cold as he reached high altitudes； but； as twilight darkened into gloom； his real anxiety was with respect to his place of landing； for he could with difficulty see the earth underneath。 He heard the distant roll of the waters； caused by the numerous creeks which intersect the delta of the Ganges； and when darkness completely shut out the view it was impossible to tell whether he was over land or sea。 Fortune favoured him； however； and reaching dry ground； he sprang from his seat； relinquishing at the same moment his hold of the balloon； which instantly disappeared into the darkness。
Then his wanderings began。 He was in an unknown country； without knowledge of the language； and with only a few rupees in his pocket。 Presently； however； seeing a light； he proceeded towards it； but only to find himself stopped by a creek。 Foiled more than once in this way； he at length arrived at the dwelling of a family of natives； who promptly fled in terror。 To inspire confidence and prove that he was mortal； Mr。 Spencer threw his coat over the mud wall of the compound； with the result that； after examination of the garment； he was received and cared for in true native fashion； fed with rice and goat's milk； and allowed the use of the verandah to sleep in。 He succeeded in communing with the natives by dint of lead pencil sketches and dumb show； and learned； among other things； that he had descended in a little clearing surrounded by woods； and bounded by tidal creeks； which were infested with alligators。 Yet； in the end； the waterways befriended him； for； as he was being ferried across； he chanced on his balloon sailing down on the tide； recovered it； and used the tidal waters for the return journey。
The greeting upon his arrival in Calcutta was enthusiastic beyond description from both Europeans and natives。 The hero of the adventure was visited by rajahs and notables； who vied with each other in expressions of welcome； in making presents； even inviting him to visit the sacred precincts of their zenanas。 The promised parachute descent was subsequently successfully made at Cossipore； and then followed a busy； brilliant season； after which the wanderer returned to England。 By September he is in Dublin； and makes the first parachute descent ever witnessed in Ireland； but by November he is in Bombay again； whence； proceeding to Calcutta； he repeats his success of the year before。 Next he visits Allahabad； where the same fortune attends him； though his balloon flies away in a temporary escape into the Jumna。 By May he is ascending at Singapore； armed here； however； with a cork jacket。
Hence； flushed with success； he repairs to the Dutch Indies； and demonstrates to the Dutch officers the use of the balloon in war。 As a natural consequence； he is moved up to the seat of the Achinese War in Sumatra； where； his balloon being moored to the rear of an armoured train； an immediate move is made to the front； and orders are forthwith telephoned from various centres to open fire on the enemy。 Mr。 Spencer； the while accompanied by an officer； makes a captive ascent； in which for some time he is actually under the enemy's fire。 The result of this plucky experiment is a most flattering official report。 In all the above…mentioned ascents he made his own gas without a hitch。
Thence he travels on with the same trusty little 12；000 cubic feet balloon； the same programme； and the same success。 This is slightly varied； however； at Kobe； Japan； where his impatient craft fairly breaks away with him； and； soaring high； flies overhead of a man…of…war； and plumps into the water a mile out at sea。 But 〃Smartly〃 was the word。 The ship's crew was beat to quarters； and within one minute a boat was to the rescue。 An ascent at Cairo； where he made a parachute descent in sight of the Pyramids and landed in the desert； completed this oriental tour； and home duties necessitated his return to England。 Among exploits far too many to enumerate may be mentioned four several occasions when Mr。 Percival Spencer has crossed the English Channel。
It fell to the lot of the second son； Arthur； to carry fame into fresh fields。 In the year 1897 he visited Australia； taking with him two balloons； one of these being a noble craft of 80；000 cubic feet； considerably larger than any balloon used in England； and the singular fate of this aerial monster is deserving of mention。
Its trial trip in the new country was arranged to take place on Boxing Day in the Melbourne Exhibition ground； and for the lengthy and critical work of inflation the able assistance of British bluejackets was secured。 To all appearance； the main difficulties to be provided against were likely to arise simply from a somewhat inadequate supply of gas； and on this account filling commenced as early as 10 a。m。 on the morning of the day previous to the exhibition； and was continued till 6 o'clock in the afternoon； by which time the balloon； being about half full； was staved down with sandbags through the night till 4 o'clock the next morning； when the inflation was again proceeded with without hindrance and apparently under favourable conditions。 The morning was beautifully fine； warm； brilliant； and still； and so remained until half…past six； when； with startling rapidity； there blew up a sudden squall known in the country as a 〃Hot Buster；〃 and in two or three minutes' space a terrific wind storm was sweeping the ground。 A dozen men； aiding a dead weight of 220 sandbags； endeavoured to control the plunging balloon； but wholly without avail。 Men and bags together were lifted clean up in the air on the windward side； and the silk envelope； not yet completely filled； at once escaped from the net and； flying upwards to a height estimated at 10；000 feet； came to earth again ninety miles away in a score of fragments。 Nothing daunted； however； Mr。 Spencer at once endeavoured to retrieve his fortunes； and started straightway for the gold…mining districts of Ballarat and Bendigo with a hot…air balloon； with which he successfully gave a series of popular exhibitions of parachute descents。 Few aeronauts are more consistently reliable than Mr。 Arthur Spencer。 A few summers ago in this country he was suddenly called upon to give proof of his prowess and presence of mind in a very remarkable manner。 It was at an engagement at Reading； where he had been conducting captive ascents throughout the afternoon； and was requested to conclude the evening with a 〃right away；〃 in which two passengers had agreed to accompany him。 The balloon had been hauled down for the last time； when； by some mistake； the engine used for the purpose proceeded to work its pump without previously disconnecting the hauling gear。 The consequence of this was that the cable instantly snapped； and in a moment the large balloon； devoid of ballast； grapnel； or other appliances； and with neck still tied； was free； and started skyward。
The inevitable result of this accident must have been that the balloon in a few seconds would rise to a height where the expansion of the imprisoned gas would burst and destroy it。 Mr。 Spencer； however； was standing near； and； grasping the situation in a moment； caught at the car as it swung upwards； and； getting hold； succeeded in drawing himself up and so climbing into the ring。 Quickly as this was done； the balloon was already distended to the point of bursting； and only the promptest release of gas averted catastrophe。
Mr。 Stanley Spencer made himself early known to the world by a series of parachute descents； performed from the roof of Olympia。 It was a bold
