When my fears and astonishment had
in some degree subsided, I had little difficulty in supposing it to be
some mighty volcanic fragment ejected from that world to which I was
so rapidly approaching, and, in all probability, one of that
singular class of substances occasionally picked up on the earth,
and termed meteoric stones for want of a better appellation.
April 16th. To-day, looking upward as well as I could, through
each of the side windows alternately, I beheld, to my great delight, a
very small portion of the moon's disk protruding, as it were, on all
sides beyond the huge circumference of the balloon. My agitation was
extreme; for I had now little doubt of soon reaching the end of my
perilous voyage. Indeed, the labor now required by the condenser had
increased to a most oppressive degree, and allowed me scarcely any
respite from exertion. Sleep was a matter nearly out of the
question. I became quite ill, and my frame trembled with exhaustion.
It was impossible that human nature could endure this state of intense
suffering much longer.
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