Five Weeks in a Balloon Chapter 8

**Alex E. Tillander** (0:26)
CHAPTER VIII.
Joe's Importance. The Commander of the Resolute. Kennedy's Arsenal.
Mutual Amenities. The Farewell Dinner. Departure on the 21st of February. The Doctor of Scientific Sessions.
Duverrier. Livingston.
Details of the Aerial Voyage. Kennedy Silenced.
About the 10th of February, the preparations were pretty well completed, and the balloons firmly secured, one within the other, were altogether finished. They had been subjected to a powerful pneumatic pressure in all parts, and the tests gave excellent evidence of their solidity, and the care applied in their construction.
Joe hardly knew what he was about, with delight. He trotted incessantly to and fro between his home in Greek Street, and the Mitchell establishment, always full of business, but always in the highest spirits, giving details of the affair to people who did not even ask him. So proud was he, above all things, of being permitted to accompany his master.
I have even a shrewd suspicion that what with showing the balloon, explaining the plans and views of the doctor, giving folks a glimpse of the latter, through a half of a window, or pointing him out as he passed along the streets. The clever scamp earned a few half-grounds, but we must not find fault with him for that. He had as much right as anybody else to speculate upon the admiration and curiosity of his contemporaries. On the 16th of February, the Resolute cast anchor near Greenwich. She was a screw propeller of 800 tons, a fast sailor, and the very vessel that had been sent out to the polar regions to revictual the last expedition of Sir James Ross. Her commander, Captain Bennet, had the name of being a very amiable person, and he took a particular interest in the doxels' expedition, having been one of that gentleman's admirers for a long time. Bennet was rather a man of science than a man of war, which did not, however, prevent his vessel from carrying four carronades that had never hurt anybody, to be sure, but had performed the most pacific duty in the world. The hold of the Resolute was so arranged as to find a stowing place for the balloon. The latter was shipped with the greatest precaution on the 18th of February, and was then carefully deposited at the bottom of the vessel in such a way as to prevent accident. The car and its accessories, the anchors, the cords, the supplies, the water tanks, which were to be filled on arriving, all were embarked and put away under Ferguson's own eyes.
Ten tons of sulfuric acid and ten tons of iron filings were put on board for the future production of the hydrogen gas. The quantity was more than enough, but it was well to be provided against accident. The apparatus to be employed in manufacturing the gas, including some thirty empty casks, was also stowed away in the hole.
These various preparations were terminated on the eighteenth of February in the evening. Two staterooms, comfortably fitted up, were ready for the reception of Dr. Ferguson and his friend Kennedy, the latter all the while swearing that he would not go when on board with the regular arsenal of hunting weapons, among which were two double-barreled, breech-loading fouling-pieces, and a rifle that had withstood every test of the make of Purdy Morne Dickinson at Edinburgh. With such a weapon, a marksman would find no difficulty in lodging a bullet in the eye of a chamois at the distance of two thousand paces. Along with these implements, he had two of Colt's six shooters for unforeseen emergencies. His powder case, his cartridge pouch, his lead, and his bullets did not exceed a certain weight prescribed by the doctor. The three travellers got themselves to rights on board during the working hours of February 19
They were received with much distinction by the captain and his officers, the doctor continuing as reserved as ever, and thinking of nothing but his expedition.
Dick seemed a good deal moved, but was unwilling to betray it, while Joe was fairly dancing and breaking out in laughable remarks. The worthy fellow soon became the gesture and merry Andrew of the boat's wains mess, where birth had been kept for him. On the 20th, a grand farewell dinner was given to Dr. Ferguson and Kennedy by the Royal Geographical Society. Commander Bennet and his officers were present at the entertainment, which was signalized by copious libations and numerous toasts. Heals were drunk, in sufficient abundance to guarantee all the guests a lifetime of centuries. Sir Francis M presided, with a restrained but dignified feeling. To his own supreme confusion, Dick Kennedy came in for a large share in the jovial felicitations of the night. After having drunk of the intrepid Ferguson, the glory of England, they had to drink to the no less courageous Kennedy, his daring companion. Dick blushed a good deal on that pass for modesty, whereupon the applause redoubled, and Dick blushed again. A message from the Queen arrived while they were at dessert. Her Majesty offered her compliments to the two travellers, and expressed her wishes for their safe and successful journey. This of course rendered imperative fresh toast to her most gracious Majesty. At midnight, after touching farewells and warm shaking of hands, the guests separated. The boats of the Resolute were in waiting at the stairs of Westminster Bridge. The captain leaped in, accompanied by his officers and passengers, and the rapid current of the Thames, aiding the strong arms of the rowers, bore them swiftly to Greenwich. In an hour's time all were asleep on board. The next morning, February 21, at three o'clock, the furnaces began to roar. At five the anchors were weighed, and the Resolute, powerfully driven by her screw, began to plow the water towards the mouth of the Thames.