Part 3 (2/2)
The Greenwich Observatory had placed itself at the doctor's disposal The latter, however, did not intend to make experiments in physics; he merely wanted to be able to knohat direction he was passing, and to determine the position of the principal rivers, mountains, and towns
He also provided hiht but strong silk ladder fifty feet in length
He at the sahed his stores of provision, which consisted of tea, coffee, biscuit, salted meat, and pemmican, a preparation which comprises many nutritive elements in a small space Besides a sufficient stock of pure brandy, he arranged tater-tanks, each of which contained twenty-two gallons
The consumption of these articles would necessarily, little by little, diht to be sustained, for itin the atnificant weight suffices to produce a very noticeable displace to shelter the car, nor the coverings and blankets that were to be the bedding of the journey, nor so pieces and rifles, with their requisite supply of powder and ball
Here is the suht, as he couson 135 pounds
Kennedy 153 ”
Joe 120 ”
Weight of the outside balloon 650 ”
Weight of the second balloon 510 ”
Car and network 280 ”
Anchors, instrus, etc 190 ”
Meat, pemmican, biscuits, tea, coffee, brandy 386 ”
Water 400 ”
Apparatus 700 ”
Weight of the hydrogen 276 ”
Ballast 200 ”
--- 4,000 pounds
Such were the iteuson proposed to carry up with him He took only two hundred pounds of ballast for ”unforeseen eencies,” as he remarked, since otherwise he did not expect to use any, thanks to the peculiarity of his apparatus
CHAPTER EIGHTH
Joe's Importance-The Commander of the Resolute-Kennedy's arsenal-Mutual Amenities-The Farewell Dinner-Departure on the 21st of February-The Doctor's Scientific Sessions-Duveyrier-Livingstone-Details of the Aerial Voyage-Kennedy silenced
About the 10th of February, the preparations were pretty well completed; and the balloons, firether finished They had been subjected to a powerful pneuave excellent evidence of their solidity and of the care applied in their construction
Joe hardly knehat he was about, with delight He trotted incessantly to and fro between his home in Greek Street, and the Mitchell establishhest spirits, giving details of the affair to people who did not even ask hi permitted to accompany histhe balloon, explaining the plans and views of the doctor, giving folks a gli hi the streets, the clever scamp earned a few half-crowns, but we ht as anybody else to speculate upon the admiration and curiosity of his contemporaries
On the 16th of February, the Resolute cast anchor near Greenwich She was a screw propeller of eight hundred tons, a fast sailer, and the very vessel that had been sent out to the polar regions, to revictual the last expedition of Sir Ja a very amiable person, and he took a particular interest in the doctor's expedition, having been one of that gentle time Bennet was rather a man of science than a man of hich did not, however, prevent his vessel fro four carronades, that had never hurt any body, to be sure, but had performed the most pacific duty in the world
The hold of the Resolute was so arranged as to find a stowing-place for the balloon The latter was shi+pped with the greatest precaution on the 18th of February, and was then carefully deposited at the bottom of the vessel in such a way as to prevent accident The car and its accessories, the anchors, the cords, the supplies, the water-tanks, which were to be filled on arriving, all were euson's own eyes
Ten tons of sulphuric acid and ten tons of iron filings, were put on board for the future production of the hydrogen gas The quantity was ainst accident The apparatus to be e some thirty empty casks, was also stoay in the hold
These various preparations were ter Two state-rooms, couson and his friend Kennedy The latter, all the while swearing that he would not go, went on board with a regular arsenal of hunting weapons, a-pieces, and a rifle that had withstood every test, of the h With such a weapon aa bullet in the eye of a cha with these impleencies His powder-case, his cartridge-pouch, his lead, and his bullets, did not exceed a certain weight prescribed by the doctor
The three travellers got the-hours of February 19th They were received with much distinction by the captain and his officers, the doctor continuing as reserved as ever, and thinking of nothing but his expedition dick see to betray it; while Joe was fairly dancing and breaking out in laughable remarks The worthy fellow soon became the jester and merry-andrew of the boatswain's mess, where a berth had been kept for hiiven to Dr Ferguson and Kennedy by the Royal Geographical Society Commander Bennet and his officers were present at the entertainnalized by copious libations and numerous toasts Healths were drunk, in sufficient abundance to guarantee all the guests a lifetime of centuries Sir Francis M--presided, with restrained but dignified feeling
To his own supree share in the jovial felicitations of the night After having drunk to the ”intrepid Ferguson, the glory of England,” they had to drink to ”the no less courageous Kennedy, his daring coood deal, and that passed for modesty; whereupon the applause redoubled, and dick blushed again
A e from the Queen arrived while they were at dessert Her Majesty offered her compliments to the two travellers, and expressed her wishes for their safe and successful journey This, of course, rendered iracious Majesty”
Atof hands, the guests separated
The boats of the Resolute were in waiting at the stairs of Weste The captain leaped in, accoers, and the rapid current of the Tha arms of the rowers, bore them swiftly to Greenwich In an hour's ti, February 21st, at three o'clock, the furnaces began to roar; at five, the anchors eighed, and the Resolute, powerfully driven by her screw, began to plough the water toward the mouth of the Thames
It is needless to say that the topic of conversation with every one on board was Dr Ferguson's enterprise Seeing and hearing the doctor soon inspired everybody with such confidence that, in a very short ti the incredulous Scotchman, on the steamer who had the least doubt of the perfect feasibility and success of the expedition
During the long, unoccupied hours of the voyage, the doctor held regular sittings, with lectures on geographical science, in the officers'the last forty years in Africa; and the doctor related to them the explorations of Barth, Burton, Speke, and Grant, and depicted the wonders of this vast, mysterious country, now thrown open on all sides to the investigations of science On the north, the young Duveyrier was exploring Sahara, and bringing the chiefs of the Touaregs to Paris Under the inspiration of the French Govern fro from the west, would cross each other at Tistone was still advancing toward the equator; and, since March, 1862, he had, in company with Mackenzie, ascended the river Rovoonia The nineteenth century would, assuredly, not pass, contended the doctor, without Africa having been compelled to surrender the secrets she has kept locked up in her bosouson's hearers was excited to the highest pitch when he made known to them, in detail, the preparations for his own journey They took pleasure in verifying his calculations; they discussed them; and the doctor frankly took part in the discussion
As a general thing, they were surprised at the limited quantity of provision that he took with him; and one day one of the officers questioned him on that subject
”That peculiar point astonishes you, does it?” said Ferguson
”It does, indeed”
”But how long do you think reatlyone, we should be lost; we should never get back But you must know that the distance froal is only thirty-five hundred-say four thousand miles Well, at the rate of two hundred and forty miles every twelve hours, which does not co day and night, it would take only seven days to cross Africa!”