THE CONQUEST OF TIME AND SPACE 



calamity they were obliged to throw out everything in 

 the car — books, provisions, anchors, ropes, the "wings" 

 that were intended for guiding, and also most of their 

 garments. They were, indeed, about to cut loose the 

 car itself, and climb into the shrouds, when suddenly the 

 balloon, caught by a fresh current of air, began to rise, 

 and was wafted to a safe landing place. This was the 

 most daring exploit as yet performed by the aeronauts. 



Although at least fifty different persons had made 

 more or less extended aerial voyages during the two 

 years that had intervened since the invention of the first 

 balloon, no one of them had been seriously injured. 

 Indeed, this apparently most dangerous undertaking 

 had been relegated to the grade of commonplace in 

 popular opinion, owing to these fortunate results. But 

 the world was soon to learn that its first estimates of the 

 dangers of ballooning had not been exaggerated. 



Since the invention of the Montgolfier balloon two 

 distinct schools of balloonists had arisen, one of which 

 favored the hot-air, and the other the hydrogen balloon. 

 By the advocates of the hot-air balloon it was claimed 

 that the relatively small expense, and the fact that the 

 balloonist could descend at any time and renew his 

 supply of fuel, made this the most desirable type, at 

 least for long-distance voyages. By the advocates of 

 the hydrogen balloon it was shown that the hot-air 

 balloon must be constructed much larger to obtain the 

 same amount of lifting power, could be maintained in 

 the air for a comparatively short time at most, and was 

 in constant danger from the fire that must be kept burn- 

 ing in the grate. In reply to this last charge the hot-air 



[240] 



