Atlas Nightshade

Day 138

“Like Sir George Cayley’s balloon, his own was an ellipsoid. Its

length was thirteen feet six inches—height, six feet eight

inches. It contained about three hundred and twenty cubic feet of

gas, which, if pure hydrogen, would support twenty-one pounds

upon its first inflation, before the gas has time to deteriorate

or escape. The weight of the whole machine and apparatus was

seventeen pounds—leaving about four pounds to spare. Beneath the

centre of the balloon, was a frame of light wood, about nine feet

long, and rigged on to the balloon itself with a network in the

customary manner. From this framework was suspended a wicker

basket or car.

“The screw consists of an axis of hollow brass tube, eighteen

inches in length, through which, upon a semi-spiral inclined at

fifteen degr