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car； so I got into it at once； and watched the gradual inflation of
the balloon。 Luggage I had none； save the provisions hidden in the
ballast bags； the books of mythology； and the treatises on the
machines； with my own manuscript diaries and translations。
I sat quietly； and awaited the hour fixed for my departurequiet
outwardly； but inwardly I was in an agony of suspense lest
Arowhena's absence should be discovered before the arrival of the
King and Queen； who were to witness my ascent。 They were not due
yet for another two hours； and during this time a hundred things
might happen； any one of which would undo me。
At last the balloon was full； the pipe which had filled it was
removed； the escape of the gas having been first carefully
precluded。 Nothing remained to hinder the balloon from ascending
but the hands and weight of those who were holding on to it with
ropes。 I strained my eyes for the coming of the King and Queen；
but could see no sign of their approach。 I looked in the direction
of Mr。 Nosnibor's housethere was nothing to indicate disturbance；
but it was not yet breakfast time。 The crowd began to gather； they
were aware that I was under the displeasure of the court； but I
could detect no signs of my being unpopular。 On the contrary； I
received many kindly expressions of regard and encouragement； with
good wishes as to the result of my journey。
I was speaking to one gentleman of my acquaintance； and telling him
the substance of what I intended to do when I had got into the
presence of the air god （what he thought of me I cannot guess； for
I am sure that he did not believe in the objective existence of the
air god； nor that I myself believed in it）； when I became aware of
a small crowd of people running as fast as they could from Mr。
Nosnibor's house towards the Queen's workshops。 For the moment my
pulse ceased beating； and then； knowing that the time had come when
I must either do or die； I called vehemently to those who were
holding the ropes （some thirty men） to let go at once； and made
gestures signifying danger； and that there would be mischief if
they held on longer。 Many obeyed； the rest were too weak to hold
on to the ropes； and were forced to let them go。 On this the
balloon bounded suddenly upwards； but my own feeling was that the
earth had dropped off from me； and was sinking fast into the open
space beneath。
This happened at the very moment that the attention of the crowd
was divided； the one half paying heed to the eager gestures of
those coming from Mr。 Nosnibor's house； and the other to the
exclamations from myself。 A minute more and Arowhena would
doubtless have been discovered； but before that minute was over； I
was at such a height above the city that nothing could harm me； and
every second both the town and the crowd became smaller and more
confused。 In an incredibly short time； I could see little but a
vast wall of blue plains rising up against me； towards whichever
side I looked。
At first； the balloon mounted vertically upwards； but after about
five minutes； when we had already attained a very great elevation；
I fancied that the objects on the plain beneath began to move from
under me。 I did not feel so much as a breath of wind； and could
not suppose that the balloon itself was travelling。 I was；
therefore； wondering what this strange movement of fixed objects
could mean； when it struck me that people in a balloon do not feel
the wind inasmuch as they travel with it and offer it no
resistance。 Then I was happy in thinking that I must now have
reached the invariable trade wind of the upper air； and that I
should be very possibly wafted for hundreds or even thousands of
miles； far from Erewhon and the Erewhonians。
Already I had removed the wrappings and freed Arowhena； but I soon
covered her up with them again； for it was already very cold； and
she was half stupefied with the strangeness of her position。
And now began a time； dream…like and delirious； of which I do not
suppose that I shall ever recover a distinct recollection。 Some
things I can recallas that we were ere long enveloped in vapour
which froze upon my moustache and whiskers； then comes a memory of
sitting for hours and hours in a thick fog； hearing no sound but my
own breathing and Arowhena's （for we hardly spoke） and seeing no
sight but the car beneath us and beside us； and the dark balloon
above。
Perhaps the most painful feeling when the earth was hidden was that
the balloon was motionless； though our only hope lay in our going
forward with an extreme of speed。 From time to time through a rift
in the clouds I caught a glimpse of earth； and was thankful to
perceive that we must be flying forward faster than in an express
train； but no sooner was the rift closed than the old conviction of
our being stationary returned in full force； and was not to be
reasoned with： there was another feeling also which was nearly as
bad； for as a child that fears it has gone blind in a long tunnel
if there is no light； so ere the earth had been many minutes
hidden； I became half frightened lest we might not have broken away
from it clean and for ever。 Now and again； I ate and gave food to
Arowhena； but by guess…work as regards time。 Then came darkness； a
dreadful dreary time； without even the moon to cheer us。
With dawn the scene was changed： the clouds were gone and morning
stars were shining； the rising of the splendid sun remains still
impressed upon me as the most glorious that I have ever seen；
beneath us there was an embossed chain of mountains with snow fresh
fallen upon them； but we were far above them； we both of us felt
our breathing seriously affected； but I would not allow the balloon
to descend a single inch； not knowing for how long we might not
need all the buoyancy which we could command； indeed I was thankful
to find that； after nearly four…and…twenty hours； we were still at
so great a height above the earth。
In a couple of hours we had passed the ranges； which must have been
some hundred and fifty miles across； and again I saw a tract of
level plain extending far away to the horizon。 I knew not where we
were； and dared not descend； lest I should waste the power of the
balloon； but I was half hopeful that we might be above the country
from which I had originally started。 I looked anxiously for any
sign by which I could recognise it； but could see nothing； and
feared that we might be above some distant part of Erewhon； or a
country inhabited by savages。 While I was still in doubt； the
balloon was again wrapped in clouds； and we were left to blank
space and to conjectures。
The weary time dragged on。 How I longed for my unhappy watch！ I
felt as though not even time was moving； so dumb and spell…bound
were our surroundings。 Sometimes I would feel my pulse； and count
its beats for half…an…hour together； anything to mark the timeto
prove that it was there； and to assure myself that we were within
the blessed range of its influence； and not gone adrift into the
timelessness of eternity。
I had been doing this for the twentieth or thirtieth time； and had
fallen into a light sleep： I dreamed wildly of a journey in an
express train； and of arriving at a railway station where the air
was full of the sound of locomotive engines blowing off steam with
a horrible and tremendous hissing； I woke frightened and uneasy；
but the hissing and crashing noises pursued me now that I was
awake； and forced me to own that they were real。 What they were I
knew not； but they grew gradually fainter and fainter； and after a
time were lost。 In a few hours the clouds broke； and I saw beneath
me that which made the chilled blood run colder in my veins。 I saw
the sea； and nothing but the sea； in the main black； but flecked
with white heads of storm…tossed； angry waves。
Arowhena was sleeping quietly at the bottom of the car； and as I
looked at her sweet and saintly beauty； I groaned； and cursed
myself for the misery into which I had brought her； but there was
nothing for it now。
I sat and waited for the worst； and presently I saw signs as though
that worst were soon to be at hand； for the balloon