To-day I became strongly impressed with the idea, that the balloon was
now actually running up the line of apsides to the point of perigee-
in other words, holding the direct course which would bring it
immediately to the moon in that part of its orbit the nearest to the
earth. The moon iself was directly overhead, and consequently hidden
from my view. Great and long-continued labor necessary for the
condensation of the atmosphere.
April 15th. Not even the outlines of continents and seas could now
be traced upon the earth with anything approaching distinctness. About
twelve o'clock I became aware, for the third time, of that appalling
sound which had so astonished me before. It now, however, continued
for some moments, and gathered intensity as it continued. At length,
while, stupefied and terror-stricken, I stood in expectation of I knew
not what hideous destruction, the car vibrated with excessive
violence, and a gigantic and flaming mass of some material which I
could not distinguish, came with a voice of a thousand thunders,
roaring and booming by the balloon.
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