UP IN A BALLOON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2057, 27 July 1893, Page 41

UP IN A BALLOON.

"The Queen of the Clouds" Is orangeShaped now, rapidly, indeed, assuming her

distended and full-dress appearance. Fully 60 sandbags, requisite restraint, are dangling around the balloon, ever and anon hooked a few meshes lower, as she continues to swell towards her aerial home. A small mob of labouring men are involuntarily dancing about-, attending to this necessary office ; dancing about, for puffs of wind and gushes of inflowing gas cause the balloon to sway wildly upwards, and from Bide to side. The 11 CAPTAIN," cool, yet watchfully alert, direots everything. Hundreds and hundreds of interested spectators crowd round the roped ring; whilst the amateur aeronaut just within the sacred enclosure vainly tries to look as though he had no connection with the business, and covertly examines his boots, wherein, to tell the truth, his heart seems to have temporarily concealed itself. But from remarks, hints, and general information bellowed to him by the professor, the secret is wafted abroad. To my confusion, unwittingly I find myself " the observed of all observers." Quoth a stalwarb collier to his sweetheart, " That theer mon's a-goirjg up in th' balloon, should'st loike to go, Emmar ? " To which "Emmar" sagely makes reply, "Don't yermake any bloomin' error — what, pay three quid to go up wi' th' aryonaught ? Nome!" The amateur aeronaut slinks away, with his tail (metaphorically) between his legs. At last all is ready for the ascent. More and more bags of sand have beou slung on— the balloon having become far more buoyant —and a lot HOISTED INTO TJIE CAB, which by this time is attached ; the supply of gas is shut off, and the aerial beauty tugs strenuously at the rope, whereby fourscore of lusty arms hold her captive. The amateur aeronaut nervously, aye, sheepishly, takes his seat in the car, noting with considerable satisfaction that his head scarcely sppears over the side. The professor stands erect on the edge of the car, carefully adjusticg the rope of the escape valve, so that it may lie ready to his hand, and free from obstruction ; for upon that slender cord will presently depend our two lives. The men hanging to the rope are hurried backwards and forwards across the enclosure, as with every gust of wind the balloon lurches wildly. It is of the utmost importance that she should not be LET GO until, at the exact moment, the captain (or professor) gives the word of command ; for a strong breeze blows right in the direction of the tower of the ruined keep ; and were the balloon allowed to rush skywards during a gust, she would inevitably be dashed against the solid masonry; result—collapse and catastrophe. ' The anchor, or grappling iron, with a stoub rope attached, is on board, lying upon the sandbags in the bottom of the oar. The expectation of the vast crowd is raised to a painful pitch. Comes a momentary lull. " Let go 1 " yells the captain, still standing coolly upon the edge of the car; and with A BTJSH ANDA.BOAB OB 1 OHEEBS - she soars upwards, the keep being just cleared by some very adroit manoeuvring on the part of the professor. • Very appropriately the band below pours orth th& air of a onoe highly popular song, •Up in a balloon, boys"; and we are launched upon our aerial voyage.— From Chums for May. *