Five Weeks in a Balloon Chapter 5

**SPEAKER_1** (0:25)
CHAPTER V.
Kennedy's Dreams. Articles and pronouns in the plural. Dixon's Inuations. A promenade over the map of Africa.
What is contained between two points of the compass.
Expeditions now on foot. Spieken-Granth. Graf de Dicken and de Hoeghlen.
Dr. Ferguson energetically pushed the preparations for his departure, and in person superintendent the construction of his balloon, with certain modifications, in regard to which he observed the most absolute silence. For a long time past, he had been applying himself to the study of the Arab language in the various Mandingo idioms, and thanks to his talents as a polyglot, he had made rapid progress. In the meanwhile, his friend, the sportsman, never let him out of his sight, afraid, no doubt, that the doctor might take his departure without saying a word to anybody. On this subject, he regaled him with the most persuasive arguments, which, however, did not persuade Samuel Ferguson, and wasted his breath in pathetic entreaties, by which the latter seemed to be but slightly moved. In fine, Dick felt that the doctor was slipping through his fingers. The poor Scott was really to be pitied. He could not look upon the azure vault without a somber terror. When asleep he felt oscillations that made his head reel, and every night he had visions of being swung aloft at immeasurable heights.
We must add that during these fearful nightmares he once or twice fell out of bed. His first care, then, was to show Ferguson a severe contusion that he had received on the cranium. And yet, he would add, with warmth, That was at the height of only three feet, not an inch more, and such a bump as this. Only think, then. This insinuation, full of sad meaning as it was, did not seem to touch the doctor's heart. Will not fall was his invariable reply. But still, suppose that we were to fall. We will not fall. This was decisive, and Kennedy had nothing more to say.
What particularly exasperated Dick was that the doctor seemed completely to lose sight of his personality, of his, Kennedy's, and to look upon him as irrevocably distant to become his aerial companion. Not even the shadow of a doubt was ever suggested, and Samuel made an intolerable misuse of the first-person plural.
We are getting along. We shall be ready on the—we shall start on the—etc., etc. And then there was the single possessive adjective. Our balloon. Our car. Our expedition. And the same in the plural, too. Our preparations. Our discoveries. Our ascensions.
Dick shuddered at them, although he was determined not to go, but he did not want to annoy his friend. Let us also disclose the fact that, without knowing exactly why himself, he had sent to Edinburgh for a certain selection of heavy clothing and his best hunting gear and firearms. One day, after having admitted that, with an overwhelming run of good luck, there might be one chance of success in a thousand, he pretended to yield entirely to the doctor's wishes, but in order to still put off the journey, he opened the most varied series of subterfuges.
He drew himself back upon questioning the utility of the expedition, its opportunists, etc.
This discovery, the sources of the Naya, was it likely to be of any use? Would one have really laboured for the welfare of humanity? When, after all, the African tribe should have been civilized, would they be any happier? Were folks certain that civilization had not its chosen abode there rather than in Europe? Perhaps. And then couldn't one wait a little longer? The trip across Africa would certainly be accomplished some day, and in a less hazardous manner. In another month, or in six months before the year was over, some explorer would undoubtedly come in, etc., etc.
These hints produced an effect exactly opposite to what was desired or intended, and the doctor trembled with impatience. Are you willing, then, wretched dick, are you willing, friend, that this glory should belong to another? Might I then be untrue to my past history? Recoil before obstacles that are not serious? Recoil with caroly hesitation what both the English government and the Royal Society of London have done for me? But resumed Kennedy, who made great use of that conjunction. But, said the doctor, are you not aware that my journey is to compete with the success of the expeditions now on foot? Don't you know that fresh explorers are advancing towards the centre of Africa?
Still, listen to me, dick, and cast your eyes over that map. Dick glanced over it with resignation. Now, ascend the course of the Nile. I have ascended it, replied the Scotchman, with docility. Stop at Gondokoro. I am there. And Kennedy thought to himself how easy such a trip was, on the map. Now, take one of the points of these dividers, and let it rest upon that place beyond which the most daring explorers have scarcely gone. I have done so. And now look along the coast for the island of Zanzibar, in latitude six degrees south. I have it. Now, follow the same parallel and arrive at Kazeh. I have done so.