The Journal of a Sporting Nomad 
if he so wished it, immediately free the ropes 
from the car and leave them behind him. Thus 
in an emergency, in case, that is, the ropes fouled 
in a crevice in the ice or rocks, he could get rid 
of them. Freed from this weight the balloon 
would then rise to a considerable height again, 
when he could, should he wish, put over the 
side the duplicate drag-ropes he had in reserve. 
These ropes were so hard that a blade of a pen- 
knife could not penetrate them; they were, 
towards their extremities, provided with weak 
spots, like a rat’s tail, that would break in case 
of a foul, and so free him to resume his journey. 
All his food, water, and stores were carried in 
aluminium tins. The anchor, all instruments, etc., 
were made of bronze—the only articles of steel 
that he took with him were a knife and rifle. 
The food and stores were carried in canvas 
pockets that were affixed to the ropes that led 
from the netting that covered the balloon and 
that supported the car, the total weight carried 
by the balloon, including passengers, being about 
five tons. The balloon being more or less flat 
on the top was provided with a cap of oiled silk ; 
this was to prevent snow, should any fall, from 
becoming lodged there. The neck of the balloon 
was provided with a patent valve which would 
automatically open if the pressure of the gas, 
owing perhaps to the heat of the sun, became 
excessive, thereby preventing a burst. She was 
162 
