There was a Prussian labourer who became my inveterate enemy, because I had engaged him as a right-hand man, and had discharged him afterwards for bad conduct. From urgent intercession I had taken him on again for a fresh trial, and although I never liked the look of the fellow, yet somehow he cajoled me, and being very handy and ingenious, I suffered those unfailing first warnings to go by unheeded.
On a splendid evening I ascended in company with Mr. Lacy, Mr. Accum, and Herr Henkel.
When we reached an elevation of about 3000 feet, it became expedient to open the valve; on pulling the cord, one of the top shutters broke and remained open, leaving an area for escape of twenty-six inches by twelve, which allowed so large a volume to pass out that a rapid descent commenced, which all our ballast could not check.
I lost no time in doing everything that was possible for our safety, but the escape of sustaining power became so great that one-half of the “Sylph” was deprived of gas; the result being, that our fall was so rapid and perilous, that nothing short of a favourable open spot saved us from broken bones. Fortunately, in one respect, we came down in a well cultivated garden, and the car coming on to a fruit tree the shock was lessened, so that none of us were hurt.
It came out afterwards, that this scoundrel was seen to tamper with, and indeed partially sever the connecting lines of the valve, by which diabolical act we might all have lost our lives.
The next noteworthy voyage was from Berlin into East Prussia, in the direction of Dantzig; a run of nearly 200 miles in about five hours, characterized this truly pleasurable tour.
I had with me Herr Hildebrandt, artist to the King of Prussia, and Herr Henkel.
After we had been up twenty minutes, we came within view of the river Oder. “So soon,” exclaimed Hildebrandt, “why it is twenty-five English miles from the city, we must be travelling at railway speed.”
“Yes, we are, and a great deal faster than railway speed in Germany.” Although the wind was strong, there was no perceptible motion in the car. A stream of murky-looking cloud was drifting along towards the Baltic, and fine moist mist frequently surrounded us as we dipped into the vapour, but the barometer showed that it was more than 1600 feet thick, as we occasionally varied that much in altitude without emerging into sunlight, or within view of the earth.
After we had been up two hours I let out some gas, to see if any of the villages or landmarks would present a familiar aspect to either of the voyagers; but they confessed to having passed beyond any place they were acquainted with.