THE CONQUEST OF TIME AND SPACE 



One balloon sent up in London landed in Sussex, forty- 

 eight miles away, making the voyage in two hours and a 

 half. A few days later a small balloon sent up in Kent 

 was blown across the Channel and landed in Flanders. 

 But neither of these balloons carried passengers. 



As yet there had been few serious attempts at con- 

 structing dirigible balloons, but now Jean-Pierre Blan- 

 chard opened a new era of experiments by combining 

 an ordinary balloon for obtaining the lifting power with 

 wings and rudder. In this balloon there was also placed 

 an umbrella-shaped sail interposed horizontally between 

 the car and the body of the balloon, which was to act as 

 a sort of parachute in case of accident. On the first 

 voyage in this balloon Blanchard was to have had for 

 companion a Benedictine monk; but as the machine 

 began to rise from the ground the monk was seized with 

 fear, turned deadly pale, crossed himself, and seemed 

 about to collapse. Fortunately at this moment a leak 

 was discovered in the balloon and it was accordingly 

 lowered for repairs. When these were completed the 

 aeronaut decided to dispense with the company of the 

 monk, who was only too willing to gratify his wish. 

 But just as the car was again ready to start, a stripling 

 student from the Military Academy forced his way 

 through the crowd, jumped into the car, and announced 

 his intention of making the ascent. Being ordered 

 from the car by Blanchard, he declared that he had the 

 king's license, and when asked to produce it he drew his 

 sword, declaring that this was the license he referred to. 

 By this time the crowd had lost patience ; some one 

 seized the young man unceremoniously by the collar, 



[238] 



