I had just decided upon concluding these captive ascent when the goodly dame burst out into an audible lamentation that she had travelled, I don’t know how many miles, on purpose to see the English balloon, and now her chance of going up in it was lost.
The spectators laughed heartily, and inferred by her corpulent appearance that her chances for a ride were few indeed. A policeman endeavoured to check her zeal, but she saluted me with her umbrella, and in return for this rough but well-meant compliment I left the enclosure and offered the good soul my arm, escorting her to the car amidst a roar of merriment which lasted for some minutes. Orders were given to let out to the full extent of the rope, and up we went amidst deafening cheers and lively music when the lady returned thanks with her umbrella and repeated the noddings from a shovel-shaped bonnet which bespoke her humble—though at the moment elevated—position.
This little episode being completed, I summoned the aspirants for aëronautic honours. They were Mr. H. Zeise of Altona, Dr. Braun, and Herr Kruss.
The barometer on the earth was 29.1½, and the temperature 10° Reaumur. We were eighty-eight Hamburg feet above the sea level where we started, and the wind was south.
The “Sylph” ascended soon after 2 p.m., and although the breeze was fresh the sky was clear, so that a fine view of the town, the Alster and the Elbe was to be had immediately on rising. After letting go a parachute and watching its downward course for ten minutes, Herr Zeise drew forth a bottle of champagne which had been some years in his cellar, and prepared us for a toast. It was not to be one of a personal or flattering character, but a heartfelt sentiment called forth by the country we were going in the direction of.
After discharging the cork which rolled away earthwards, Herr Zeise with uplifted cap and radiant face which inspired us all with enthusiasm, cried out “Schleswig-Holstein lebe hoch.” The other Hamburgers cordially echoed the feelings expressed, and I was ready myself to accord almost with anything, seeing that my companions were so friendly and communicative.
After the glasses were replenished there was an interchange of civilities in which the pilot was not neglected, and at three o’clock we became rather more philosophical and took down the following observations of elevation and time, although these little records in no way interfered with conviviality and enjoyment:—
| Time. | Barometer. | Height in Feet. | Thermometer. |
| 3· 5 | 24·6·0 | 3348 | 10° R. |
| 3·10 | 24·3·2 | 3628 | |
| 3·15 | 23·0·4 | 3911 | |
| 3·20 | 23·10·7 | 4084 | |
| 3·25 | 23·11·3 | 4923 | 4° R. |
| 3·30 | 23·7·3 | 5433 | |
| 3·35 | 23·10·2 | 4185 | |
| 3·40 | 24·1·0 | 3850 | |
| 3·45 | 25·1·5 | 3786 | 6° R. |
As we knew our direction was towards Kiel, I arranged just before 4 o’clock to descend, this was the more desirable from the fact that we were surrounded with cloud and could not see far ahead or beneath. When the balloon was within 600 feet of the earth, the report of several small arms aroused our attention, especially when the discharge was followed by the whirring of flying visitors in the shape of lead.
“Is it possible we have been shot at?” asked Dr. Braun.