the dominion of the air-第29部分
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ouble in respiration； whilst Mr。 Coxwell； in consequence of the exertions he had to make； was breathing with difficulty。 More sand was now thrown out； and as the balloon rose higher Mr。 Glaisher states that he found some difficulty in seeing clearly。 But from this point his experiences should be gathered from his own words：
〃About 1。52 p。m。； or later； I read the dry bulb thermometer as minus five； after this I could not see the column of mercury in the wet bulb thermometer； nor the hands of the watch； nor the fine divisions on any instrument。 I asked Mr。 Coxwell to help me to read the instruments。 In consequence； however； of the rotatory motion of the balloon； which had continued without ceasing since leaving the earth； the valve line had become entangled； and he had to leave the car and mount into the ring to readjust it。 I then looked at the barometer； and found its reading to be 9 3/4 inches； still decreasing fast； implying a height exceeding 29；000 feet。 Shortly after； I laid my arm upon the table； possessed of its full vigour； but on being desirous of using it I found it powerlessit must have lost its power momentarily。 Trying to move the other arm； I found it powerless also。 Then I tried to shake myself； and succeeded； but I seemed to have no limbs。 In looking at the barometer my head fell over my left shoulder。 I struggled and shook my body again； but could not move my arms。 Getting my head upright for an instant only； it fell on my right shoulder； then I fell backwards； my back resting against the side of the car and my head on its edge。 In this position my eyes were directed to Mr。 Coxwell in the ring。 When I shook my body I seemed to have full power over the muscles of the back； and considerably so over those of the neck； but none over either my arms or my legs。 As in the case of the arms； so all muscular power was lost in an instant from my back and neck。 I dimly saw Mr。 Coxwell； and endeavoured to speak； but could not。 In an instant intense darkness overcame me； so that the optic nerve lost power suddenly； but I was still conscious； with as active a brain as at the present moment whilst writing this。 I thought I had been seized with asphyxia； and believed I should experience nothing more； as death would come unless we speedily descended。 Other thoughts were entering my mind when I suddenly became unconscious； as on going to sleep。 I cannot tell anything of the sense of hearing； as no sound reaches the ear to break the perfect stillness and silence of the regions between six and seven miles above the earth。 My last observation was made at 1。54 p。m。； above 29；000 feet。 I suppose two or three minutes to have elapsed between my eyes becoming insensible to seeing fine divisions and 1。54 p。m。； and then two or three minutes more to have passed till I was insensible； which I think； therefore； took place about 1。56 p。m。 or 1。57 p。m。
〃Whilst powerless； I heard the words 'Temperature' and 'Observation；' and I knew Mr。 Coxwell was in the car speaking to and endeavouring to rouse metherefore consciousness and hearing had returned。 I then heard him speak more emphatically； but could not see； speak； or move。 I heard him again say； 'Do try； now do！' Then the instruments became dimly visible； then Mr。 Coxwell； and very shortly I saw clearly。 Next； I arose in my seat and looked around； as though waking from sleep； though not refreshed； and said to Mr。 Coxwell； 'I have been insensible。' He said； 'You have； and I too； very nearly。' I then drew up my legs； which had been extended； and took a pencil in my hand to begin observations。 Mr。 Coxwell told me that he had lost the use of his hands； which were black； and I poured brandy over them。〃
Mr。 Glaisher considers that he must have been totally insensible for a period of about seven minutes； at the end of which time the water reserved for the wet bulb thermometer； which he had carefully kept from freezing； had become a solid block of ice。 Mr。 Coxwell's hands had become frostbitten； so that； being in the ring and desirous of coming to his friend's assistance； he was forced to rest his arms on the ring and drop down。 Even then； the table being in the way； he was unable to approach； and； feeling insensibility stealing over himself； he became anxious to open the valve。 〃But in consequence of having lost the use of his hands he could not do this。 Ultimately he succeeded by seizing the cord in his teeth and dipping his head two or three times until the balloon took a decided turn downwards。〃 Mr。 Glaisher adds that no inconvenience followed his insensibility； and presently dropping in a country where no conveyance of any kind could be obtained； he was able to walk between seven and eight miles。
The interesting question of the actual height attained is thus discussed by Mr。 Glaisher：〃I have already said that my last observation was made at a height of 29；000 feet。 At this time； 1。54 p。m。； we were ascending at the rate of 1；000 feet per minute； and when I resumed observations we were descending at the rate of 2；000 feet per minute。 These two positions must be connected； taking into account the interval of time between； namely； thirteen minutes； and on these considerations the balloon must have attained the altitude of 36；000 or 37；000 feet。 Again； a very delicate minimum thermometer read minus 11。9； and this would give a height of 37；000 feet。 Mr。 Coxwell； on coming from the ring； noticed that the centre of the aneroid barometer； its blue hand； and a rope attached to the car； were all in the same straight line； and this gave a reading of seven inches； and leads to the same result。 Therefore； these independent means all lead to about the same elevation； namely； fully seven miles。〃
So far we have followed Mr。 Glaisher's account only； but Mr。 Coxwell has added testimony of his own to this remarkable adventure； which renders the narrative more complete。 He speaks of the continued rotation of the balloon and the necessity for mounting into the ring to get possession of the valve line。 〃I had previously；〃 he adds； 〃taken off a thick pair of gloves so as to be the better able to manipulate the sand…bags； and the moment my unprotected hands rested on the ring； which retained the temperature of the air； I found that they were frost…bitten； but I did manage to bring down with me the valve line； after noticing the hand of the aneroid barometer； and it was not long before I succeeded in opening the shutters in the way described by Mr。 Glaisher。。。。 Again； on letting off more gas； I perceived that the lower part of the balloon was rapidly shrinking； and I heard a sighing； as if it were in the network and the ruffled surface of the cloth。 I then looked round； although it seemed advisable to let off more gas； to see if I could in any way assist Mr。 Glaisher； but the table of instruments blocked the way； and I could not； with disabled hands； pass beneath。 My last hope； then； was in seeking the restorative effects of a warmer stratum of atmosphere。。。。 Again I tugged at the valve line； taking stock； meanwhile； of the reserve ballast in store； and this； happily； was ample。
〃Never shall I forget those painful moments of doubt and suspense as to Mr。 Glaisher's fate； when no response came to my questions。 I began to fear that he would never take any more readings。 I could feel the reviving effects of a warmer temperature； and wondered that no signs of animation were noticeable。 The hand of the aneroid that I had looked at was fast moving； while the under part of the balloon had risen high above the car。 I had looked towards the earth； and felt the rush of air as it passed upwards； but was still in despair when Mr。 Glaisher gasped with a sigh； and the next moment he drew himself up and looked at me rather in confusion； and said he had been insensible； but did not seem to have any clear idea of how long until he caught up his pencil and noted the time and the reading of the instruments。〃
The descent； which was at first very rapid； was effected without difficulty at Cold Weston。
CHAPTER XV。 FURTHER SCIENTIFIC VOYAGES OF GLAISHER AND COXWELL。
Early in the following spring we find the same two aeronauts going aloft again on a scientific excursion which had a termination nearly as sensational as the last。 The ascent was from the Crystal Palace； and the intention being to make a very early start the balloon for this purpose had been partially filled overnight； but by the morning the wind blew strongly； and； though the ground current would have carried the voyagers in comparative safety to the southwest； several pilots which were dismissed became； at no great height； carried away due south。 On this account the start was delayed till 1 p。m。； by which time the sky had nearly filled in； with only occasional gleams of sun between the clouds。 It seemed as if the travellers would have to face the chance of crossing the Channel； and while； already in the car； they were actually discussing this point； their restraining rope broke； and they were launched unceremoniously into the skies。 This occasioned an unexpected lurch to the car； which threw Mr。 Glaisher among his instruments； to the immediate destruction of some of them。
Another result of this abrupt departure
