Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 1.djvu/259

Rh "We shall accomplish our object," said he, "and even the Imaum's soldiers would assist us if necessary; but my dear captain, an accident very easily occurs—an unfortunate blow would do irreparable damage to the balloon, and the journey would be hopelessly deferred; it is much better to take precautionary measures."

"But what can you do? If we disembark anywhere on the coast, it will be all the same. What can you do?"

"Nothing easier to answer," said the consul. "Do you perceive those islands outside the harbor? Disembark your balloon there, establish a cordon of sailors round you, and you will have nothing to fear."

"Capital," cried the doctor, "and we shall be able to make our preparations in comfort."

The captain yielded to this advice. The Resolute hauled up alongside the island of Koumbeni. During the morning of the 16th April the balloon was safely bestowed in the midst of an open space, shaded from the sun by large surrounding trees.

Two masts, each twenty-eight feet high, were placed at some distance apart, and pulleys fixed to them, so as to raise the balloon to the center of the rope stretched between them. The balloons were quite empty. The inner one was fastened to the top of the outer one, so that it could be raised with it.

To the lower extremity of each balloon were fixed the tubes for the introduction of the hydrogen. The whole of the 17th was passed in arranging the apparatus for making the gas. It consisted of thirty casks, in which the decomposition of the water was carried on by means of iron and sulphuric acid mixed with a quantity of water. The hydrogen gave off into a vast vat in the center, having been purified in transit, and thence it passed into the balloons through the tubes. In this manner each was filled with an accurately-known quantity of gas. In this operation 1,866 gallons of sulphuric acid, 16,500 pounds of iron, and 966 gallons of water were employed.

This operation was begun about three o'clock on the following morning, and continued till eight. The next day the balloons, covered by the net, were balanced gracefully above the car, which was held down by a number of bags of earth. The apparatus for the dilation was put in with