I had imagined that the habitual endurance
of the atmospheric pressure at the surface of the earth was the cause,
or nearly so, of the pain attending animal existence at a distance
above the surface. Should the kittens be found to suffer uneasiness in
an equal degree with their mother, I must consider my theory in fault,
but a failure to do so I should look upon as a strong confirmation
of my idea.
By eight o'clock I had actually attained an elevation of seventeen
miles above the surface of the earth. Thus it seemed to me evident
that my rate of ascent was not only on the increase, but that the
progression would have been apparent in a slight degree even had I not
discharged the ballast which I did. The pains in my head and ears
returned, at intervals, with violence, and I still continued to
bleed occasionally at the nose; but, upon the whole, I suffered much
less than might have been expected. I breathed, however, at every
moment, with more and more difficulty, and each inhalation was
attended with a troublesome spasmodic action of the chest.
Pages:
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62