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aris by sky to dine there that evening； inwardly； he had determined to start simply with a wind which bid fair for a cross…Channel trip； and to take whatever chances it might bring him。
Thus； at 10。30 a。m。； just as the mail packet left the pier； he cast off with a lifting power which rapidly carried him to a height of 2；000 feet； when he found his course to be towards Folkestone。 But by shortly after 11 o'clock he had decided that he was changing his direction； and when； as he judged； some seven miles from Boulogne； the wind was carrying him not across； but down the Channel。 Then； for nearly four hours； the balloon shifted about with no improvement in the outlook； after which the wind fell calm； and the balloon remained motionless at 2；000 feet above the sea。 This state of things continuing for an hour； the Captain resolved on the heroic expedient of casting out all his ballast and philosophically abiding the issue。 The manoeuvre turned out a happy one； for the balloon； shooting up to 11；000 feet； caught a current； on which it was rapidly carried towards and over the main land； and； when twelve miles beyond Dieppe； it became easy to descend to a lower level by manipulation of the valve； and finally to make a successful landing in open country beyond。
A few years before； an attempt to cross the Channel from the other side ended far more disastrously。 Jules Duruof； already mentioned as having piloted the first runaway balloon from beleaguered Paris； had determined on an attempt to cross over to England from Calais； and； duly advertising the event； a large concourse assembled on the day announced； clamouring loudly for the ascent。 But the wind proved unsuitable； setting out over the North Sea； and the mayor thought fit to interfere； and had the car removed so as to prevent proceedings。 On this the crowd grew impatient； and Duruof； determining to keep faith with them； succeeded by an artifice in regaining his car； which he hastily carried back to the balloon； and immediately taking his seat； and accompanied by his wife； the intrepid pair commenced their bold flight just as the shades of evening were settling down。 Shortly the balloon disappeared into the gathering darkness； and then for three days Calais knew no more of balloon or balloonists。
Neither could the voyagers see aught for certain of their own course； and thus through the long night hours their attention was wholly needed； without chance of sleep； in closely watching their situation； lest unawares they should be borne down on the waves。 When morning broke they discovered that they were still being carried out over the sea on a furious gale； being apparently off the Danish coast； with the distant mountains of Norway dimly visible on the starboard bow。 It was at this point； and possibly owing to the chill commonly experienced aloft soon after dawn； that the balloon suddenly took a downward course and plunged into the sea； happily； however；fairly in the track of vessels。 Presently a ship came in sight； but cruelly kept on its course； leaving the castaways in despair； with their car fast succumbing to the waves。
Help； nevertheless； was really at hand。 The captain of an English fishing smack； the Grand Charge； had sighted the sinking balloon； and was already bearing down to the rescue。 It is said that when； at length； a boat came alongside as near as it was possible； Madame Duruof was unable to make the necessary effort to jump on board； and her husband had to throw her into the arms of the sailors。 A fitting sequel to the story comes from Paris； where the heroic couple； after a sojourn in England； were given a splendid reception and a purse of money； with which M。 Duruof forthwith constructed a new balloon； named the 〃Ville de Calais。〃
On the 4th of March； 1882； the ardent amateur balloonist； Mr。 Simmons； had a narrow escape in circumstances somewhat similar to the above。 He was attempting； in company with Colonel Brine； to cross the Channel from Canterbury； when a change of wind carried them out towards the North Sea。 Falling in the water； they abandoned their balloon； but were rescued by the mail packet Foam。
The same amateur aeronaut met with an exciting experience not long after； when in company with Sir Claude C。 de Crespigny。 The two adventurers left Maldon； in Essex； at 11 p。m。； on an August night； and； sailing at a great height out to sea； lost all sight of land till 6 a。m。 the next morning； when； at 17；000 feet altitude； they sighted the opposite coast and descended in safety near Flushing。
Yet another adventure at sea； and one which proved fatal and unspeakably regrettable； occurred about this time； namely； on the 10th of December； 1881； when Captain Templer； Mr。 W。 Powell； M。P。； and Mr。 Agg…Gardner ascended from Bath。 We prefer to give the account as it appears in a leading article in the Times for December 13th of that year。
After sailing over Glastonbury； 〃Crewkerne was presently sighted； then Beaminster。 The roar of the sea gave the next indication of the locality to which the balloon had drifted and the first hint of the possible perils of the voyage。 A descent was now effected to within a few hundred feet of earth； and an endeavour was made to ascertain the exact position they had reached。 The course taken by the balloon between Beaminster and the sea is not stated in Captain Templer's letter。 The wind； as far as we can gather； must have shifted； or different currents of air must have been found at the different altitudes。 What Captain Templer says is that they coasted along to Symonsbury； passing； it would seem； in an easterly direction and keeping still very near to the earth。 Soon after they had left Symonsbury； Captain Templer shouted to a man below to tell them how far they were from Bridport； and he received for answer that Bridport was about a mile off。 The pace at which the balloon was moving had now increased to thirty…five miles an hour。 The sea was dangerously close； and a few minutes in a southerly current of air would have been enough to carry them over it。 They seem； however； to have been confident in their own powers of management。 They threw out ballast； and rose to a height of 1；500 feet； and thence came down again only just in time； touching the ground at a distance of about 150 yards from the cliff。 The balloon here dragged for a few feet； and Captain Templer； who had been letting off the gas； rolled out of the car； still holding the valve line in his hand。 This was the last chance of a safe escape for anybody。 The balloon； with its weight lightened； went up about eight feet。 Mr。 Agg…Gardner dropped out and broke his leg。 Mr。 Powell now remained as the sole occupant of the car。 Captain Templer； who had still hold of the rope； shouted to Mr。 Powell to come down the line。 This he attempted to do； but in a few seconds； and before he could commence his perilous descent； the line was torn out of Captain Templer's hands。 All communication with the earth was cut off； and the balloon rose rapidly； taking Mr。 Powell with it in a south…easterly direction out to sea。〃
It was a few seasons previous to this； namely； on the 8th of July； 1874； when Mr。 Simmons was concerned in a balloon fatality o