START OF THE RECORD TRIP 



movement to the right and slowly 

 mounts to the left, showing the rise in 

 obedience to the loss of weight which, 

 although so little, is still enough to dis- 

 turb the sensitive balance. 



Thus, in my exalted position, with 

 nothing to fear, for there is nothing for 

 the ship to collide with, I ride out the 

 day and, as I intend to descend at dusk, 

 decide upon a small open space in the 

 coming picture, just over a tiny hill, and 

 using my judgment as to the speed of 

 the ship, pull open the valve for a few 

 seconds, just enough to unbalance the 

 buoyance, and then watch the barome- 

 ter to make sure that exactly enough 



of the lifting power has escaped to give 

 the desired descent. Now, for my an- 

 chor. Is it properly hooked at the bas- 

 ket's edge, so that when wanted, and 

 the bottom of its rope loop touches the 

 ground, it can be quickly thrown over- 

 board ? For I must not misjudge the 

 distance. 



Objects have grown larger: things 

 again look earthly and consequently 

 have lost some of their beauty. Now, 

 the ballast bags ! Are they ready to be 

 quickly used, to properly ease the fall 

 when about to touch? 



How easily she makes port and how 

 still — dreamily still. The ship takes 



475 



