CHAPTER XXXI.
Brilliant Colouring of dense Clouds.
Section 172.A Thunder Cloud in most grotesque Form;—of superior Magnitude, Density, and brightness—a celestial Colouring; Aironaut lost in the blue Fields of Air, by the Intervention of Clouds below him: which prevented all farther Knowledge of his Situation, and also a Sight of the Earth itself.and whose Shade was itself a Colour of semi-transparent and transcendent Blue and Violet-Purple;—remaining for several Minutes, exactly under the Balloon, tempted the Aironaut to descend into it; and, if possible, investigate its Structure and Composition.
Blanchard, he knew, had passed throu’ many without Danger: any Fears that might otherwise have been entertained on that Head were therefore groundless: particularly as Gass, i. e. inflammable Air and the electric Fluid (supposing an electric Atmosphere had surrounded the Thunder Cloud) mutually repel each other. He however declined the Trial: among other Reasons which then offered; that the temporary and apparent Rest of both Balloon and Clouds portended his Situation to be over the Center of some Water: so that if Gass had been let out in order to descend; enough might not have remained to make Choice of a proper Place to land.
173. Some Minutes after; on the Retreat of the Clouds, or progressive Motion of the Balloon; he found himself suspended over the most enchanting Meanders of a Rivulet.
Where he coud not tell.
