“Observe, Louisa, the rocket as it ascends describes a parabola,”[[83]] cried Tom.
“Oh, how extremely beautiful! see, the head has burst, and is discharging a number of brilliant stars! What is that red spark which is now falling to the ground, papa?”
“That is the ignited stick of the rocket,” replied his father.
“Take care, Louisa, do not hold your face up,” exclaimed Tom; “for as the rocket bursts over our heads, the stick may fall upon us.”
“I scarcely expected such an observation from you, Tom,” said his father, “after the sensible remark you just made respecting the parabolic path of the rocket; do not you remember, that when a projectile has reached its greatest altitude, it will descend in a curve similar to that in which it ascended?”
“True, true,” answered Tom; “I see my error; the stick must, of course, fall at a considerable distance from us.”
“Look! look!! There goes a courantine: how it ran along the rope!” exclaimed Louisa.
“There goes another!” cried Tom; “and see, it is the dragon; and I declare there is another running in an opposite direction;--they meet. Look at the serpents which they discharge from their mouths! Now they return to the extremity of the line with great violence. What an explosion!!!”
In like manner were next exhibited two ships, which, being filled with serpents, were made to pour their broadsides at each other.
“I never saw better courantines in my life,” said Mr. Seymour; “the major really conducts the exhibition with great skill; it does him infinite credit as an engineer.”