It moved its wings, but did not leave
the spot; then I left it to itself, and it fell perpendicularly
and with great rapidity. Birds are certainly not able to
maintain themselves at such elevations.
"It is notable that the atmosphere, which was of a perfect purity
near the earth, was grey and misty above our heads, and the
beautiful blue sky seen from the surface did not exist for us,
although the weather was calm and serene, and the day the most
beautiful that could be. The sun did not seem dazzling to us,
and its heat was diminished owing to our elevation.
"At half-past eleven, the balloon was no longer visible from
Hamburg. The heavens were so pure beneath us that everything was
distinctly seen by us, though very much diminished by distance.
At 11.40, the town of Hamburg seemed only a red point in our
eyes; the Elbe looked like a straight ribbon. I wished to make
use of an opera-glass, but what surprised me was that when I
lifted it up it was so cold that I had to wrap my handkerchief
around it to enable me to hold it.
"Not being able to support our position any longer, we descended,
after having used up much gas and ballast. Our descent caused
that degree of terror among the inhabitants which the size of our
balloon was calculated to inspire in a country where such
machines had never before been seen.
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