IN A BALLOON WITH A MADMAN.

Kumara Times, Issue 644, 21 October 1878, Page 2

IN A BALLOON WITH A MADMAN.

Monsieur Godard, "in hia last journey to the clouds but orie, was accompanied by a single fellow-traveller, who had paid on© thousand francs for the privilege of a place, by the side of the celebrated aeronaut. The weather was splendid, and the balloon had reached a considerable height. "What effect has its on you f" inquired M. Godard of his companion. _ " None whatever," was the curt reply. "I 1 must compliment you," said M. Godard; " you are the first amateur I have ever known to reach this latitude without experiencing some emotion." "Go higher," said the amateur coolly. M. Godard threw out some ballast, arid the balloon flew up some sixty 1 yards higher, . ... 1 ' Now how do you feel I'' "Just as usual," said the companion, in rather a petulant tone. "By Jove!" exclaimed M. Godard, " you are a born aeronaut, sir !" The balloon kept on rising, arid, when a few yards higher, M. Godard, for the third time, questioned his companion as to his emotions. "Emotions! not a trace of emotion," replied he, with the.tone of a man who feels that he has been taken in. Well, so much the worse," said the aeronaut. "I see I shall not be able to alarm you ; we have risen high enough, and we shall now descend." "Descend?" " Yes, certainly ; it would be dangerous to go higher." " I % don't care about danger, and I don't choose to descend. I'm going higher, I am. I paid a thousand francs in order to experience some emotions. I'll have some before going down again.'V M. Godard burst out laughing. He thought the man was joking. "Are you.going up higher or not?" said the companion, at the same time grasping M. Godard by the throat, .and shaking him violently. . "I intend, to have my emotions." M. Godard saw at a glance that he had to do with a madman.' The dilated eyes, the furious grasp, the very tone of his voice left no doubt about that. ••-.■■'■ But what was to be done ? They were some 3000 feet high among the clouds : a

Struggle was out of the question, as one violent motion of the madman would be enouglito upset the car. All these thoughts passed through M. Godard's mind in less than a second. His adversary was a powerful man, and without loosening his grasp he called out, " Ah, my fine fellow, you have been playing the fool with me. you have made me pay 1000 franos, and not given me a single emotion." " Well, but what would you have me do?" asked M.Godard, calmly and soothingly v "I'm going to throw you over," said the madman with a wild laugh; " but first an idea strikes me ; I'll go to the top of the balloon," and suiting the action to the word, he jumped into the rigging of the car. "But, my poor friend," said the aeronaut, "you'll kill yourself like that." The madman uttered a threat. ." At least," said M. Godard, " let me put a *ope around your waist to prevent an accident."! "Wellbeitso," said the madman, who seemed to see the necessity of some precaution, arid the rope having been attached he recommenced climbing the rigging with the agility of a squirrel, and in a few moments was seated on the apex, clapping iis hands and shouting with joy. All at once he takes out of his pocket a large clasp-knife, and brandishing it above his head, yells out: " Now, you rascal, you wanted to descend did you ?" so you shall with a vengeance!" and before M. Godard can utter a word, four out of the six ropes attaching the car of the balloon are cut and the car itself swinging helplessly outside. The madman's knife was now touching the other two, when the aeronaut calls out to him : " Stop ! one word!" "No, no ; down you go," '.'But let me tell you something, my friend; we are now 3000 feet high, it is true) but that is not high enough for a good fall." "What do you mean 1" said the madman (confusedly. "I mean this, that a fall of only 3000 feet might not kill me, and I prefer being killed to being only crippled. Oblige me, therefore, by waiting until we rise three or four thousand feet higher." "Agreed?", said the madman, who seemed to enjoy the idea of so prodigious afall. The aeronaut keeps his word, he throws out nearly the whole of his ballast, and the balloon shoots up rapidly. But while the madman attentively watches this operation, M. Godard observes that among the cordage as yet untouched is the pulley of the gas-escape. He gently draws the cord, and the gas begins to escape immediately under the spot were the lunatic is perched. In a few moments the-combined effects of the gas and the now intensively rarified air are apparent, and the madman sinks into a state of Igthargy. The aeronaut cautiously brings down his balloon, and the terrible crisis is ended.-—Paris Correspondent of Baltimore Sun.