THE STRAND MAGAZINE . 
192 
pleasure of carrying off the first prize in the 
long-distance competition of the Aero Club 
of the East, by going from Nancy to Neuf- 
Chateau, in Belgium, in fifteen hours. In the 
same year, in the competition for the first 
prize of the Aero Club, I went from Paris to 
Rondefontaine. From Nancy I went in my 
balloon to Karlsruhe and the long trip to 
Landau, In spite of my affection for the 
monoplane, I have not quite deserted the 
balloon, for last year, 1912, 1 went up fourteen 
times, including a trip from Paris to Brussels 
and from Paris to Mars-le-Tour. At various 
times 1 have enabled thirty-six passengers 
to experience the delights of a balloon 
ascent. 
“ But the most dramatic episode of my 
life as an aeronaut was my trip from Nancy 
to South wold, in England, over six hundred 
miles, one hundred and fifty of which were 
over the North Sea. You shall hear the 
circumstances of this trip. 
“ Mr. Gamier and I had started on the 
1 Flying Star ’ in beautiful weather. About 
noon our 4 golden ball ' crossed the silver 
ribbon, the Moselle, and we passed over 
Gravelotte and 
St. P r i v a t, 
reaching D i e 
Kirch about 
five o’clock. At 
a quarter -past 
six, at Aix-la- 
Chapelle, night 
fell, an d w e 
turned on our 
electric 1 a m p. 
Cries of ‘A 
balloon ! ’ came 
to us from the 
town below. 
“ We crossed 
the Rhine and 
the Lippe, and 
then things 
began to go 
w r 0 n g. T h e 
wind freshened 
rapidly, and we 
were swept furi- 
ously towards 
E n c h e d e, in 
Holland. I was just about to try a forced 
descent, when the current changed com- 
pletely and a contrary wind seized us. The 
compass pointed to the west. I said to my 
companion, 4 We must cross the North Sea.’ 
I was used to this district, and I knew that 
when the wind blew direct from the east, in 
a storm, there was no avoiding the direct 
crossing to England. 
44 We dashed over the Zuyder Zee at a 
terrific speed, seeing the lights of Amsterdam 
glitter far below. We embarked over the 
North Sea with ten bags of ballast. All went 
well until nine o’clock, and then came another 
change. The temperature fell, the cords of 
the car were covered with ice, and the snow 
beat into our faces, making us shiver in spite 
of our furs. The balloon descended to about 
fifteen yards from the sea, in which our 
guide-rope trailed. Four times we threw out 
ballast, and rose, only to fall again towards 
the sea, which seemed to be roaring hungrily 
to engulf us. The storm was terrific. 
“ At last we had only one bag of ballast, 
and our anchor. These were flung over- 
board, and we made our last ascent towards 
the moon, which just then emerged from 
behind the clouds. Again we descended 
towards the moaning waves, along which our 
guide-rope dragged a long furrow behind us. 
We crouched down in the bottom of the car, 
holding on to the ropes, and every instant 
awaiting the chill plunge into the sea. A huge 
wave broke over us, causing the wicker of 
the car to creak as the water swept through 
it and over us. 
The volume of 
water made the 
car tip over in 
f r 0 n t , a n d 
almost involun- 
tarily we threw 
ourselves back 
to re-establish 
the equilibrium. 
For more than 
a n hou r w e 
sailed, as it 
were, through 
the very waves, 
which broke our 
barometer and 
carried off all 
our small pro- 
perty, beating 
us to and fro 
and dashing us 
cruelly against 
the sides of the 
car. A .sort of shadow seemed to pass by 
us rapidly. It was a sailing-ship, and the 
crew uttered cries of astonishment as our 
balloon was swept rapidly past them. Far 
off, we saw the lights of a steamer ; then all 
was dark again. 
“ All at once a sort of star seemed to rise 
DRIVING HER BUGGY. 
Fivm « PJi0to0i'«i)h by IMk. 
