“On the 7th of October, 1804, the weather had began to clear up a little; for several days preceding, the wind and rain had been incessant.  But the ascension announced by Zambecarri could not be postponed!  His idiot enemies already scoffed at him.  To save himself and science from public ridicule, it became necessary for him to ascend.  It was at Bologna!  No one aided him in filling his balloon; he rose at midnight, accompanied by Andreoli and Grossetti.  The balloon ascended slowly; it had been rent by the wind, and the gas escaped.  The three intrepid voyagers could observe the state of the barometer only by the aid of a dark lantern.  Zambecarri had not eaten daring twenty-four hours; Grossetti was also fasting.

“‘My friends,’ said Zambecarri, ’I am benumbed with the cold; I am exhausted; I must die;’ and he fell senseless in the gallery.

“It was the same with Grossetti.  Andreoli alone remained awake.  After long efforts he succeeded in arousing Zambecarri from his stupor.

“’What is there new?  Where are we going?  In which direction is the wind?  What time is it?’

“’ It is two o’clock!’

“’ Where is the compass?’

“‘It has fallen out.’

“’ Great God! the lamp is extinguished!’

“’ It could not burn longer in this rarefied air!’ said Zambecarri.

“The moon had not risen; the atmosphere was plunged in horrible darkness.

“’ I am cold, I am cold, Andreoli!  What shall we do?’

“The unfortunate men slowly descended through a layer of white clouds.

“‘Hush!’ said Andreoli; ‘do you hear—­’

“’ What?’ replied Zambecarri.

“‘A singular noise!’

“‘You are mistaken!’

“’No!—­Do you see those midnight travellers, listening to that incomprehensible sound?  Have they struck against a rower?  Are they about to be precipitated on the roofs?  Do you hear it?  It is like the sound of the ocean!’

“‘Impossible!’

“’ It is the roaring of the waves!’

“’ That is true!—­Light! light!’

“After five fruitless attempts, Andreoli obtained it.  It was three o’clock.  The sound of the waves was heard with violence; they almost touched the surface of the sea.

“’ We are lost!’ exclaimed Zambecarri, seizing a bag of ballast.

“’ Help!’ cried Andreoli.

“The car touched the water, and the waves covered them breast high.  To the sea with instruments, garments, money!  The aeronauts stripped entirely.  The lightened balloon rose with frightful rapidity.  Zambecarri was seized with violent vomiting.  Grossetti bled freely.  The unhappy men could not speak; their respiration was short.  They were seized with cold, and in a moment covered with a coat of ice.  The moon appeared to them red as blood.  After having traversed these high regions during half an hour, the machine again fell into the sea.  It was four o’clock in the morning:  the