Jules Verne

Name: Five Weeks in a Balloon — Chapter Forty-Third.
Author: Jules Verne

Five Weeks in a Balloon — Chapter Forty-Third… (1873)

Summary

“Five Weeks in a Balloon — Chapter Forty-Third.”, published in 1873, is a work by Jules Verne. It explores elements such as balloon, Talabas and aeronauts.

Quotes from Five Weeks in a Balloon — Chapter Forty-Third… (Jules Verne)

Jules Verne, Five Weeks in a Balloon — Chapter Forty-Third… (1873)

“ The Talabas checked their horses, and soon a volley of musketry pealed out on the air.
"Too far, you fools!" bawled Joe. "I think it would be well to keep those scamps at a distance."
And, as he spoke, he aimed at one of the horsemen who was farthest to the front, and fired. The Talaba fell headlong, and, his companions halting for a moment, the balloon gained upon them.
"They are prudent!" said Kennedy.
"Because they think that they are certain to take us," replied the doctor; "and, they will succeed if we descend much farther. We must, absolutely, get higher into the air." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Jules Verne, Five Weeks in a Balloon — Chapter Forty-Third… (1873)

“ They were armed, some with lances, and others with long muskets, and they were following, on their quick, fiery little steeds, the direction of the balloon, which was moving at only moderate speed.
When they caught sight of the aeronauts, they uttered savage cries, and brandished their weapons. Anger and menace could be read upon their swarthy faces, made more ferocious by thin but bristling beards. Meanwhile they galloped along without difficulty over the low levels and gentle declivities that lead down to the Senegal.
"It is, indeed, they!" said the doctor; "the cruel Talabas! ”

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Source: Wikisource

Jules Verne, Five Weeks in a Balloon — Chapter Forty-Third… (1873)

“ Its outer covering was becoming flaccid, and floated loosely in the air, and the folds of the silk rustled and grated on each other.
"Heaven abandons us!" said Kennedy; "we have to fall!"
Joe made no answer. He kept looking intently at his master.
"No!" said the latter; "we have more than one hundred and fifty pounds yet to throw out."
"What can it be, then?" said Kennedy, thinking that the doctor must be going mad.
"The car!" was his reply; "we can cling to the network. There we can hang on in the meshes until we reach the river. Quick! quick!" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Jules Verne, Five Weeks in a Balloon — Chapter Forty-Third… (1873)

“ And these daring men did not hesitate a moment to avail themselves of this last desperate means of escape. They clutched the network, as the doctor directed, and Joe, holding on by one hand, with the other cut the cords that suspended the car; and the latter dropped to the ground just as the balloon was sinking for the last time.
"Hurrah! hurrah!" shouted the brave fellow exultingly, as the Victoria, once more relieved, shot up again to a height of three hundred feet.
The Talabas spurred their horses, which now came tearing on at a furious gallop ”

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Source: Wikisource

Jules Verne, Five Weeks in a Balloon — Chapter Forty-Third… (1873)

“ Joe and Kennedy at once went to work, and soon had an immense pile of dried grass heaped up near the baobab.
In the mean time, the doctor had enlarged the orifice of the balloon by cutting it open at the lower end. He then was very careful to expel the last remnant of hydrogen through the valve, after which he heaped up a quantity of grass under the balloon, and set fire to it.
It takes but a little while to inflate a balloon with hot air. A head of one hundred and eighty degrees is sufficient to diminish the weight of the air it contains to the extent of one-half, by rarefying it. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Jules Verne, Five Weeks in a Balloon — Chapter Forty-Third… (1873)

“ Besides, he remarked that the balloon tended to fall considerably. Since the start, he had already lost more than three hundred feet, and the Senegal must be about a dozen miles distant. At his present rate of speed, he could count upon travelling only three hours longer.
At this moment his attention was attracted by fresh cries. The Talabas appeared to be much excited, and were spurring their horses.
The doctor consulted his barometer, and at once discovered the cause of these symptoms.
"Are we descending?" asked Kennedy.
"Yes!" replied the doctor. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Jules Verne, Five Weeks in a Balloon — Chapter Forty-Third… (1873)

“ And about two miles ahead of them, there was indeed the river rolling along its broad mass of water, while the farther bank, which was low and fertile, offered a sure refuge, and a place favorable for a descent. ”

Jules Verne

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Quotes from Five Weeks in a Balloon — Chapter Forty-Third… (Jules Verne)

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