I carried three hundred pounds of ballast, in bags; the car, perfectly round, four feet in diameter, and three feet in height, was conveniently attached; the cord which sustained it was symmetrically extended from the upper hemisphere of the aerostat; the compass was in its place, the barometer suspended to the iron hoop which surrounded the supporting cord, at a distance of eight feet above the car; the anchor carefully prepared;—­all was in readiness for our departure.

Among the persons who crowded around the enclosure, I remarked a young man with pale face and agitated features.  I was struck with his appearance.  He had been an assiduous spectator of my ascensions in several cities of Germany.  His uneasy air and his extraordinary pre-occupation never left him; he eagerly contemplated the curious machine, which rested motionless at a few feet from the ground, and remained silent.

The clock struck twelve!  This was the hour.  My compagnons du voyage had not appeared.  I sent to the dwelling of each, and learned that one had started for Hamburg, another for Vienna and the third, still more fearful, for London.  Their hearts had failed them at the moment of undertaking one of those excursions, which, since the ingenious experiments of aeronauts, are deprived of all danger.  As they made, as it were a part of the programme of the fete, they had feared being compelled to fulfil their agreements, and had fled at the moment of ascension.  Their courage had been in inverse ratio to the square of their swiftness in retreat.

The crowd, thus partly disappointed, were shouting with anger and impatience.  I did not hesitate to ascend alone.  To re-establish the equilibrium between the specific gravity of the balloon and the weight to be raised, I substituted other bags of sand for my expected companions and entered the car.  The twelve men who were holding the aerostat by twelve cords fastened to the equatorial circle, let them slip between their fingers; the car rose a few feet above the ground.  There was not a breath of wind, and the atmosphere, heavy as lead, seemed insurmountable.

“All is ready!” exclaimed I; “attention!”

The men arranged themselves; a last glance informed me that everything was right.

“Attention!”

There was some movement in the crowd which seemed to be invading the reserved enclosure.

“Let go!”

The balloon slowly ascended; but I experienced a shock which threw me to the bottom of the car.  When I rose, I found myself face to face with an unexpected voyager,—­the pale young man.

“Monsieur, I salute you!” said he to me.

“By what right?”—­

“Am I here?  By the right of your inability to turn me out.”

I was confounded.  His assurance disconcerted me; and I had nothing to say in reply.  I looked at him, but he paid no regard to my astonishment.  He continued: 

“My weight will disturb your equilibrium, Monsieur:  will you permit me—­”