The cloud king

Front matter

the:

ID

Y W. STEPHENS HAYWARD

Contents

I. First Essays at Ballooning — How I sent two Kittens up to the Sky 1 II. How I sent my Baby Brother on a Voyage of Discovery after the Kittens . 5 III. We emigrate to California, and go to the Diggings — I save up the Gold I obtain, and in time construct a Monster Balloon . 7 IV. Up in the Air 13 V. I am swept aloft yet higher, and after much Peril and Suffering enter the gloomy Regions of Eternal Night 10 VI. The Regions of Eternal Night . 27 VII. The Phantoms with the gleaming Eyes 30 VIII. Fairy-land . 36 IX. I am banished from the Country where I have lived two years, and am forced to ascend again in my Balloon . 02 X. After much Suffering, I am borne away by my

Balloon, and descend near a large City 56

XI. Ramoon, the Ceylon Diver, frightens the Sharks, and is himself frightened by the " Great-jawed, Snapping Devil" — the " Man-jumper" 68

Chapter I. First Essays At Ballooning How I Sent Two Kittens Up

TO THE SKY.

From the time when, as a child of four or five years old, I used to blow soap-bubbles, and watched them soar away in the summer sun, glistening with all the hues of the rainbow, the dreams of my nights and aspirations of my days have been to emulate those daring spirits who, equalling, and even surpassing, the mighty eagle in his flight, have bent the very elements to their purpose, and have ascended into the brigh. blue sky miles above the clouds !

All the pocket money I could get was spent in the materials for toy-balloons ; and never shall I forget the wild delight with which I watched my first successful attempt shoot up in the air, and soar away out of sight. The triumphant joy of Wellington as he saw the flower of the French infantry halt, stagger, and go down before the fierce onslaught of the Guards, in the last and decisive charge at "Waterloo, was nothing to my proud exultation. I pictured in a moment to my fancy the realisation of all my hopes, seeing that I had made the first step, and might now call myself a real aeronaut.

I was then only ten years of age, and very small

>f body. Nevertheless, there was hardly a book on Dalloons, balloon ascents, and subjects connected therewith, which I had not by some means or another itrocured and devoured. After this first success, my next essay was on a more ambitious scale. I aimed at nothing less than constructing a balloon which should be large enough to take up some live animals — a cat or dog, for instance.

The difficulties in my way were great ; my father and mother rented a small farm of about sixty acres, and as they had nothing else to depend on beside their labour, the pocket-money I received was necessarily and properly small. Then the materials were expensive ; and it took me months of saving before I could even provide the varnish for my projected balloon. Of course I could not afford silk; so I was obliged to content myself with thin calico, and the cheapest materials for varnish. Nevertheless, by sheer perseverance, I succeeded in my second attempt in ballooning.

I will not here describe how I made, varnished, and filled my balloon, as I wish to get on with my narrative. However, at the conclusion I will give full and minute particulars, by scrupulously following which any one can construct and inflate a small balloon.

The balloon was completed, and the operation of filling it with the gas commenced. It took me several hours, ^rotting backwards and forwards from the gas-works in the town with my gas-bags, before I had inflated my balloon. During my absence I had left it in charge of my younger brother, a child of six years, who ako held in his lap the two kittens, who little knew the voyage of discovery on which they were to be sent.

Yes; I had actually taken two pet kittens from our old cat, and was about to send them up in the sky. Poor little things ! we were all very fond of them; but I was so confident in the saHy 3>f wj bal-

MY FIRST BALLOON. 3

loon, that I thought it impossible any harm could happen to them. At last all was ready, and my balloon was filled, and only held to the ground by the string I had purposely fastened to it. It swayed and swung about in the breeze, as if impatient to be off. How I wished that it were big enough to bear me aloft ; and how gladly would I have ventured had such been the case !

But this was not to be ; so I placed the two little cats in the wicker car, and released the string.

" Hurrah !" I fairly screamed for joy ; and my younger brother clapped his hands and rolled on the grass in very ecstasy, as my balloon shot aloft, the poor kittens mewing piteously all the while.

Away it went, higher than the tree-tops, and was borne by the wind in the direction of our house, which was distant about a quarter of a mile. Away we scampered after it, shouting and halloaing like mad boys. Each minute it rose higher ; and by the time it was passing over our house, we could but just see the heads of the kittens peering over in blank astonishment, and wondering where the farmyard, the house, and the whole world were going.

Higher and higher it went, till nothing could be seen but a speck in the sky ; then that too disappeared, and cats, balloon, and all were gone.

I must own I looked rather blank at this, for it had never struck me what would become of the kittens.

My little sister cried bitterly at the loss of her pets, and called me a cruel brute of a boy for sending them up. She knew, she said, that they would fall and be killed. But as hour after hour passed, and they did not do so, I answered triumphantly that her fears were groundless.

" Fall, indeed! they will never fall, sissy."

" Yes ; but, Yictor, they will never come down ;" and again the tears flowed.

To this I was unable to reply; nor were my sister's fours unfounded ; fur from that day to this I have

* A SECOND BALLOON.

never seen or heard any thing of the two kittens and my balloon.

It must not be supposed for a moment that I was content to rest at these two trifling successes ; I resolved to build a yet larger balloon, and ascend in it myself. In the course of a year I had again, by great perseverance and hard work, constructed another and much larger one. But this time the great quantity of gas required to fill it presented a serious difficulty.

I have already stated that I procured this indispensable material from the gas-works of the neighbouring town. I had ingratiated myself with the son of the manager — a lad of some sixteen — and through his influence I was permitted occasionally to fill the gas-bags which I had constructed, and when all was ready, carry them to fill my balloon.

But this last affair of mine was much larger than the other — its diameter was between four and five feet, whereas the other was less than two ; consequently I required a greater quantity of gas to distend it, and had far more trouble in procuring it.

Then, again, coal-gas — which, of course, is that made in gas-works — is the very worst for the purpose. In the first place, it is much heavier than pure hydrogen ; and in the second, it is always considerably laden with moisture. This latter difficulty I overcame by parsing the gas through a tube filled with quick-lime. This substance has so great an affinity for water, that when brought in contact with gas it satisfies its desire by robbing the latter of every particle.

The impurity of the gas 1 could not help — that was hopeless. AVhcn I had got all in readiness. I began early in the morning trotting backwards and forwards to the gas-works with my gas-bags. It was well on in the afternoon before I had sufficiently inflated my balloon for it to rise. When I had done so, and it was completely full, I found, to my intense disappointment that its buoyancy was nothing like what I expected. I seated myself in the little wicker car ; but ruy nn.

A dangerous experiment. 5

grateful balloon showed not the least symptom of rising. Evidently I had miscalculated, and, so far as its bearing me aloft was concerned, the labour of many months was an utter failure.

Reluctantly forced to acknowledge this fact, I alighted from my seat greatly crestfallen. The balloon, however, though it would not carry me, kicked and plunged like a colt impatient to be off when relieved of my weight ; so I attached the end of a ball of twine to the car, and suffered it to mount as far as it would allow. Notwithstanding my disappointment, I could not but acknowledge that it looked very grand and glorious in the summer sun, as it bounded and swayed about in the air higher than the trees.

I pulled it down to earth frequently, and allowed it to ascend again; till, tired of this recreation, J looked about for something fresh. At last a brillian! idea struck me — an idea the carrying out of which had well-nigh ended fatally, and did put an end to all my ballooning for many a long month.

Chapter II

HOW I SENT JIY BABY BBOTHER ON A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY AFTER THE KITTENS.

My little sister, who had in time become reconciled to the loss of the two kittens, accompanied me to see me ascend in my balloon. Poor little Agnes ! she had become infected with my enthusiasm, and reallj believed so much in my wonderful skill and knowledge, that she thought the whole affair was perfectly safe — a bit of mere harmless fun.

She had in her arms my youngest brother, a little baby of only twelve months.

"Aggie," I said suddenly, "let's give baby a ride in the balloon; he's very little, and would go up beautifully."

" Oh, no, no !" she cried, hugging her charge ; " I f) A DANGEROUS EXPERIMENT.

know he'd go up, Vic, but, like my two poor kittens, he would never come down again."

"Nonsense!" I said; "I will hold the string, and can pull him down when we wish."

Ultimately I prevailed on my sister to consent, and we placed baby in the car, carefully wrapping him in a shawl.

Then I released the balloon, and up he shot into the air, till checked by the string. For a moment *ihe balloon remained stationary ; then a gust of wind gave it so sudden an impulse as to break the string, and in an instant I realised the terrible truth that poor baby had gone on a voyage of discovery after the kittens.

My sister cried bitterly, and I myself could not restrain a burst of terror, tears, and remorse.

Quickly recovering myself, however, I started off in pursuit of the balloon, which was being gently floated by the breeze ./toss the field at a height a little above the tree-tops. Aggie ran after me, crying and wringing her hands.

Fortunate it was, indeed, that the breeze was light, and, the gas being of bad quality, the balloon not very buoyant. It just hovered above the tree-tops, going at a pace, however, with which we could barely keep up. Passing near our house, my mother and father and some of the men heard the outcry, and hastened out to see what was the matter.

My mother swooned away when she learned the dreadful truth ; while my father and some of the labourers gave chase to the balloon with its baby freight.

Away wc went in full pursuit, over hedges and ditches at frantic speed, and still the balloon continued mockingly sailing calmly on just before us, and at about the same height.

At last, when we were all well-nigh out of breath, and were being distanced by the object of our pursuit, it fortunately floated against the top branches of a

WE EMIGKATE. ~t

tall poplar-tree. A small rent was torn in it, through which the gas slowly escaped ; and as soon as it again floated clear of the obstruction, it began to descend slowly and majestically, till it landed the car gently on the green turf.

"When we reached it, its innocent little passenger was crowing and chuckling, appearing to think it the greatest fun in the world.

My father — I must own deservedly — gave me a tremendous thrashing ; and for the present, and many a weary month after, my ballooning was utterly put a stop to.

But the fire of ambition was not out. It smouldered fiercely within my breast, till an event occurred which gave me an opportunity of repeating my efforts on a larger and grander scale, and led to results and adventures most wonderful.

This, however, I will reserve for another chapter.

Chapter III. We Emigrate To California, And Go To The Diggings 1

SAVE UP THE GOLD I OBTAIN, AND IN TIME CONSTRUCT ,1 MONSTER BALLOON.

I had attained the age of thirteen years when the event of which I speak happened. For more than two years I had been denied all opportunity of working at my favourite project. Since the unfortunate affair related in the last chapter, I was obliged to content myself with reading books on balloons and aeronautics at every spare opportunity by day, and dreaming of my future greatness and achievements by night.

This, so far, was well, for in- less than two years I thoroughly mastered the subject ; and I firmly believe that, excepting in experience, no person, not even the great Mr. Green, knew more than myself.

At this time the gold-fields of California wore in

WE EMIGRATE.

their Ml play, those of Australia just discovered. M) father resolved to emigrate, taking us all with him. California was decided on, the farm and stock sold, and in two months from the day the subject was first mooted, we were at sea, bound round Cape Horn to San Francisco and the golden valleys of California.

1 will pass over our voyage, our going up to the mines, and come at once to my story.

We settled < n the banks of the Sacramento river, and having built a hut, my father, my elder brother, and myself commenced to work at gold-digging.

We were lucky in very soon pitching on a place where the gold was sufficiently abundant to pay us all three exceedingly well.

We usually got about three ounces a day, which, at 3/. 105. or 3/. 12 s. the ounce, yielded as the result of our labour GO I. or 70/. a week. The work was both bad and disagreeable. Our " claim," as it was called, was a wet one, and we had to be constantly up to our knees in water, which all our pumping and baling can Id not keep down.

Nevertheless, notwithstanding the hardness of the work, my youth, and small size, every night when we marched off I took my "prospecting pan," and spent a couple of hours washing the " tailings," or dirt which had been previously washed, but in which there was always a certain quantity (if fine gold.

Sometimes T got two ounces a week in this manner, sometimes only one ; but the result was, that at the end of a twelvemonth I had obtained and stirred up seventyoune.es of pure gold, worth about L ; f>()7. This, for a boy ol' fourteen, was not bad. My father, in the same time, had got nearly a thousand ounces, and talked of returning to Old Jhigland after another year's search, when he would have sufficient, he hoped, to buy a large farm.

Now I thought it time to commence my operations, more especially as, by the finding of a large nugget, my store was increased to 350/.-worth of gold

WE EMIGRATE. 9

Doubtless my readers will guess the object I had in view, and which I had never for a moment lost eight of for four years.

I carefully calculated the expense of the materials (every thing was much dearer there than in England, of course), and came to the conclusion that I could purchase every thing — the silk, the varnish, and the materials for making gas, also the apparatus — for about 400?.

I contrived either to get or send to San Francisco every month for a small stock of materials. I then commenced to work one hour every night at my project ; still, however, carrying on my gold-seeking.

First I determined to build a bark hut in a secluded valley two miles fi'om the diggings.

The only assistance I had was that of an Indian boy, whom I called Jacko. He had left his tribe, was quite friendless, and lived by drawing water, chopping wood, &c, for the diggers. I soon found what a useful aid the Indian lad was to me, especially in bush-work, and secured his services every night for a trifling sum.

When the hut was finished, Jacko lived in it, and frequently I myself, after working half the night, would sleep there also, feeling too tired to return to the camp.

In four months' time I had made up my store to over 400/., and had purchased the greater part of the silk and all the varnish ; and in two months more ! set to work with a will, cutting it into strips and sewim it together. This I completed in loss than a month with the aid of Jacko, who was wild with curiosity to know what I was going to do with this " much large bag," as he called it. I now put the balloon away, and proceeded to make my net. This was a very tedious operation, and occupied me nearly a month, sometimes working half the night. Then came preparing the varnish. This done, I dragged forth my balloon (of course, when folded up, it lay in a very

10 I CONSTRUCT A BIO BALLOON.

smtu! Sface), and commenced to varnish it bit by bit, till 1 nad given it two or three coats all over. The varnish soon dried, as I had been careful to select the best materials ; and now all was ready except the gas — \\l except the gas ; but how was that to be managed ? There were no gas-works for me to go to !

The operation of making the net to encircle the balloon was, perhaps, the most tedious of any. I used wha> sailors call "marline stuff," making the meshes siii: L ;l at the top, and gradually increasing in size as they descended. This was obviously necessary, for, of course, when the balloon was in the air the principal strain on the netting would K at the top, the buoyant gas constantly endeavouring to force its way upwards. Were it not for the net, indeed, it would rend the thin silk to tatters and escape into the air.

I made a hoop of many pieces of the lightest wood I could procure. This was to go round the centre of the balloon, and to it I intended to attach both the netting and the ropes suspending my wicker car.

So soon as I had finished my netting, and com pletely prepared my balloon for the reception of the gas, I set about the task of making this latter. I procured at various times several carboys of sulphuric acid, also about six hundred pounds' weight of iron-filings. Having sunk two large casks in the ground, I placed the iron-filings in them, not altogether in bulk, but in layers, separated by straw, in order to get a greater surface. To each of these casks I attached a tube, or hose, made of canvas, and the ends of these tubes I inserted into another and smaller cask, which latter was rilled with quick-lime in coarse lumps. At the opposite end of this smaller cask I fitted a cock connected with another piece of canvas tubing, the extremity of which latter was inserted in the neck of the balloon. I next mixed my sulphuric acid with six times the quantity of water, poured the diluted acid into the two casks, and quickly closed the bunghole.

Now, when diluted sulphuric acid is poured on making Tin: fi,\g. 11

iron, great heat is produced, decomposition takes place, and hydrogen gas is evolved in large quantities.

The gas was forced to pass through my tubing into the smaller cask filled with lime. The object of this I will explain.

Gas produced by the action of dilute sulphuric acid on zinc or acid is always highly charged with water, and consequently loses a great portion of its buoyancy. Now lime, as I have said before, has a great affinity for water, and greedily absorbs — drinks it up whenever presented to it. Thus, by forcing my gas to pass through the barrel of lime, it was robbed of all its moisture, and passed into the balloon dry and buoyant, about fifteen times lighter than common air.

I commenced filling my balloon long before dawn on the day I had fixed for my ascent. I knew it would take me hours in filling ; and employed myself in packing and arranging every thing I intended to take with me on my aerial trip. Now, I did not intend to remain in the air above a few hours at the most. I thought I would ascend to the height of twa or three miles, so as to enjoy the magnificent view ; and then, after floating about in the clouds till tired, would return to earth. Still, however, I thought it prudent to take every precaution. I knew I might be borne to an upper cirrrent, and drifted out to sea before I could descend. Perhaps, indeed, my voyage might extend to days instead of hours. I had heard of such accidents happening to aeronauts, and resolved to be prepared. At times, too, I knew not why, I felt a sort of foreboding that this adventure of mine would end in an extraordinary way — in a way widely different from what I expected. Still I had not a particle of fear, so confident was I in my own skill, the stability of my balloon, and the precautions I had taken.

I had provided two small kegs of water, a Dutch cheese, a ham, and a bag of biscuits — enough for a fortnight, if necessary — not that I expected such a long trip, but because I was determined to be foro-

12 PREPARATIONS.

armed. I had also two large blankets and an opossum cloak, to protect me against the cold, which I had heard was intense at great heights. But more than this, I had also actually purchased a small portable stove on my last visit to San Francisco, so made that no flame could escape from it and endanger igniting the gas.

I had provided two bags of sand for ballast, some wood-chips, and a few pounds of coal. This latter I did not expect to use, except by way of ballast ; for I I'ad not the remotest intention of using my stove, or, indeed, having occasion for it, as I thought I would descend before the cold became too great. Then I had a thermometer, a small barometer, a mariner's compass, and a telescope ; also a small quadrant, which I had purchased from one of the sailors in the ship in which we came out. I did not forget my watch — a plain English silver one — and determined to take with me as companions two pigeons and a small Isle-of-Skye terrier. A flask of brandy completed my equipment, at least so far as I remember.

Well, at last all was ready. No sooner had I poured the diluted sulphuric acid into the barrels, than a violent effervescence and boiling commenced ; and the liberated gas poured through my tubes, through the lime barrel, and into my balloon. Gradually, as the gas streamed in, the monster swelled and bulged out, until, by 10 o'clock, it was nearly filled. Then I carefully arranged all my materials in the car, so as to balance it evenly ; and looked to the ropes and lines to see all clear. By half-past eleven the balloon was fully inflated, and surged and struggled desperately, as if wishing to escape from the cords that held it down. I now, with palpitating heart, but no fear, took my seat in the car ; and then, one by one, cast off all the ropes but a single cord, which passed through the bottom of the car, and was secured by a knot. The balloon rose to the length of this, and there remained stationary, gently surging about in the breeze.

TTTE START. 13

Jacko was capering and dancing about in mad delight at seeing my " much big bag" floating in the air, with myself seated beneath. I waved an adieu to him, and, with feelings of unbounded pride and exul tation, took hold of the knot and commenced loosening it. At that moment a shout attracted my attention, and casting my eyes in the direction whence it came, I saw my father, followed by one of his labourers, running towards me. Noticing my absence from the "claim" that morning, — a thing which had never happened before, — he had come in search of me, and, to his intense surprise, had found me calmly floating in the air in a balloon, only held to the earth by one thin cord. I heard him call to me to come down, at the same time running towards the rope which held me. For one instant I hesitated, and then with sudden resolution loosened the knot and let the rope sliji through.

To my utter surprise, I felt no motion ! "Was mj balloon, then, the work of so many months, a failure r I gazed around me in dismay, then down on the earth, and learned the truth.

The earth appeared to be miraculously vanishing from my sight.

/ was shooting up in the air with inconceivable velocity, though tlie motion was quite imperceptible!

Chapter IV Up In The Air

My feelings at that moment I can never describe The morning was bright and sunny ; u h ite, fleecy fine-weather clouds being the only ones in the skv. The panorama-like view below me was glorious in the extreme. There, stretched beneath me, were the golden valleys of California, with the thousands of diggers at work, looking, from the elevation at which

14 UP IN THE AIR .'

I was, like so many ants. Then, far away to the west, I could perceive a faint blue line, which I knew to be the Pacific Ocean, and could distinguish without much difficulty the city of San Francisco, though it was at a great distance from the spot where I ascended. When next I looked down, I could but just make out the forms of my father, the labourer, and Jacko, standing motionless, and doubtless speechless, with astonishment. I now threw out some small pieces of paper — they appeared to drop like stones. This, however, was not so, but the effect was produced by my own ascent, which was at a terrible rate. Still, however, I felt not the least particle of alarm ; on the contrary, my spirits rose with the balloon, as it shot up to the sky. Higher, higher, still higher. Now we disappear from view in a thick mist or vapour forming the white clouds which look so light and fleecy from earth. We do not remain long in these, but quickly shoot up into the clear atmosphere beyond. Then I enjoyed indeed a splendid sight ! Above me nothing but the glorious sun and the deep azure blue of the heavens ; the sun, from the clearness of the air at that elevation, brighter, and the air bluer, than ever I had seen them before. The sky, indeed, was of a very different tint from that we are accustomed to. It was as deep as Prussian blue, and had a purple tint, which rendered the effect very glorious.

Beneath me, too, what a sight was spread forth ! No dingy earth, dull, foggy, gloomy ; but a brilliant sea or meadow of sparkling white, dancing and flashing in the sun's rays. The white clouds completely concealed the dull old earth, and lay beneath me, a vast field of pure white, tumbling and rolling in billows, the tops of which flashed and sparkled in the Bunlight till I could almost fancy they were waves of driven snow spangled with diamonds.

I know not how long I remained in a half-trance, gazing in rapt wonder on the glories of the view ; but I was aroused by a feeling of cold, and slight difficulty

UP HI THE AIR! 15

of breathing. I looked at the thermometer, and saw that it stood at 32° Fahrenheit — the freezing-point. I wrapped myself in my opossum cloak, and took but little heed of this, determined to ascend yet higher, and enjoy yet more fully my triumph. Upwards we went with amazing velocity (I could tell this by repeating my experiment with the bits of paper), while the temperature continually became colder. On attempting to take a drink of water from my keg, I found it was nearly all ice ; and looking at the thermometer, found it stood at 12° below freezing. Still I was loth to descend ; and as I took no steps to do so, of course the balloon continued to dart yet higher and higher into the air.