"In about four hours and half the balloon sufficiently inflated I attached the car, therefore, and put all my implements -- not forgetting the condensing apparatus, copious supply of water, and large quantity of provisions, such as pemmican, much nutriment is contained in comparatively little bulk I also secured car pair of pigeons and cat now nearly daybreak, and it high time my departure Dropping lighted cigar ground, by accident, the opportunity, in stooping to pick it up, of igniting privately the piece of slow match, whose end, as before, protruded very little beyond the lower rim of smaller casks This manoeuvre was totally unperceived three duns; and, jumping car, I immediately cut the single cord which held me earth, and was pleased that I shot upward, carrying with all ease one hundred and seventy-five pounds of leaden ballast, and able carried up more

"Scarcely, however, had I attained the height of fifty yards, when, roaring and rumbling up after me most horrible and tumultuous manner, came so dense 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 bottom car, trembling with unmitigated terror Indeed, I now perceived that I had entirely overdone the business, and main consequences shock were yet experienced Accordingly, in second, all the blood in my body rushing to my temples, and immediately thereupon, concussion, which never forget, burst abruptly night and seemed to rip the very firmament asunder When I afterward had time for reflection, fail to attribute the extreme violence explosion, as regarded myself, to its proper cause -- my situation directly above it, and line greatest power But , 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 drunken man, hurled me with great force over the rim car, and left me dangling, at terrific height, with my head downward, and my face outwards, by piece of slender cord about three feet in length, which hung accidentally through crevice near the bottom wicker-work, and , as I fell, my left foot became most providentially entangled impossible -- utterly impossible -- any adequate idea horror situation I gasped convulsively for breath -- shudder resembling fit ague agitated every nerve and muscle frame -- my eyes starting from their sockets -- horrible nausea overwhelmed me -- and I fainted away

"How long I remained state impossible It must, however, no inconsiderable time, for when I partially recovered the sense of existence, the day breaking, the balloon at prodigious height over wilderness of ocean, and not trace of land discovered far and wide limits vast horizon My sensations, however, upon thus recovering, were by no means so rife with agony as anticipated Indeed, much of incipient madness calm survey which I began situation I drew my eyes each hands, one other, and wondered what occurrence given rise swelling veins, horrible blackness fingernails I afterward carefully examined my head, shaking it repeatedly, and feeling it with minute attention, until I succeeded in satisfying myself not, as I had more than half suspected, larger than my balloon Then, in knowing manner, in both my breeches pockets, and, missing therefrom set of tablets and toothpick case, endeavored to account for their disappearance, and not being able , felt inexpressibly chagrined It now occurred that I suffered great uneasiness joint left ankle, and dim consciousness situation began to glimmer through my mind But, strange ! neither astonished nor horror-stricken If any emotion at all, kind of chuckling satisfaction cleverness about to display in extricating myself dilemma; and I never, for moment, looked upon my ultimate safety as question susceptible of doubt I remained wrapped profoundest meditation distinct recollection of frequently compressing my lips, putting my forefinger side 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 , 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 waistband 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 body buckle, and was glad them remain firm position Holding the instrument thus obtained within my teeth, I now proceeded to untie the knot cravat I had to rest before accomplish this manoeuvre, but accomplished To one end cravat I then made fast the buckle, other end I tied, for greater security, tightly around my wrist Drawing now my body upwards, with prodigious exertion of muscular force, I succeeded, very first trial, in throwing the buckle over the car, and entangling it, as I had anticipated, circular rim wicker-work

"My body was now inclined towards the side car, at an angle of about forty-five degrees; but it must not be understood that therefore only forty-five degrees below the perpendicular , I still lay nearly level plane horizon; change of situation which I had acquired, had forced the bottom car considerably outwards from my position, accordingly imminent and deadly peril It remembered, however, that when I fell first instance, car, if I had fallen with my face turned toward the balloon, instead of turned outwardly , as it actually was; or if, second place, the cord suspended had chanced to hang over the upper edge, instead of through crevice near the bottom car, -- it readily conceived that, in either supposed cases, I unable to accomplish even as I had now accomplished, wonderful adventures of Hans Pfaall utterly lost to posterity, I had therefore every reason grateful; although, in point of fact, still too stupid anything at all, and hung for, perhaps, quarter of an hour extraordinary manner, without making the slightest farther exertion whatsoever, and in singularly tranquil state of idiotic enjoyment But this feeling fail to die rapidly away, and thereunto succeeded horror, and dismay, and chilling sense of utter helplessness and ruin , the blood accumulating vessels head and throat, and which had hitherto buoyed up my spirits with madness and delirium, had now begun to retire within their proper channels, distinctness thus added to my perception danger, merely served to deprive me self-possession and courage to encounter it But this weakness was, luckily , of no very long duration In came to my rescue the spirit of despair, and, with frantic cries and struggles, I jerked my way bodily upwards, till , clutching with vise-like grip the long-desired rim, I writhed my person over it, and fell headlong and shuddering car

" not until afterward that I recovered myself sufficiently to attend ordinary cares balloon I then, however, examined it with attention, and found it, to my great relief, uninjured My implements were all safe, and, fortunately, I had lost neither ballast nor provisions Indeed, I had secured them in their places, that such an accident was entirely Looking at my watch, it six o'clock still rapidly ascending, and my barometer gave present altitude of three and three-quarter miles Immediately beneath me ocean, lay small black object, slightly oblong in shape, seemingly size, and in every way bearing great resemblance to one childish toys called domino Bringing my telescope to bear upon it, I plainly discerned it British ninety four-gun ship, close-hauled, and pitching heavily sea with her head W S W Besides this ship, nothing but the ocean sky, sun, which had long arisen