“Everythingbeingnowready，Iexactedfrommywifeanoathofsecrecyinrelationtoallmyactionsfromthedayofmyfirstvisittothebookseller’sstall；andpromising，onmypart，toreturnassoonascircumstanceswouldpermit，IgaveherwhatlittlemoneyI
hadleft，andbadeherfarewell。IndeedIhadnofearonheraccount。
Shewaswhatpeoplecallanotablewoman，andcouldmanagemattersintheworldwithoutmyassistance。Ibelieve，totellthetruth，shealwayslookeduponmeasanidleboy，ameremake-weight，goodfornothingbutbuildingcastlesintheair，andwasrathergladtogetridofme。ItwasadarknightwhenIbadehergood-bye，andtakingwithme，asaides-de-camp，thethreecreditorswhohadgivenmesomuchtrouble，wecarriedtheballoon，withthecarandaccoutrements，byaroundaboutway，tothestationwheretheotherarticlesweredeposited。Wetherefoundthemallunmolested，andIproceededimmediatelytobusiness。
“ItwasthefirstofApril。Thenight，asIsaidbefore，wasdark；
therewasnotastartobeseen；andadrizzlingrain，fallingatintervals，renderedusveryuncomfortable。Butmychiefanxietywasconcerningtheballoon，which，inspiteofthevarnishwithwhichitwasdefended，begantogrowratherheavywiththemoisture；thepowderalsowasliabletodamage。Ithereforekeptmythreedunsworkingwithgreatdiligence，poundingdownicearoundthecentralcask，andstirringtheacidintheothers。Theydidnotcease，however，importuningmewithquestionsastowhatIintendedtodowithallthisapparatus，andexpressedmuchdissatisfactionattheterriblelaborImadethemundergo。Theycouldnotperceive，sotheysaid，whatgoodwaslikelytoresultfromtheirgettingwettotheskin，merelytotakeapartinsuchhorribleincantations。Ibegantogetuneasy，andworkedawaywithallmymight，forIverilybelievetheidiotssupposedthatIhadenteredintoacompactwiththedevil，andthat，inshort，whatIwasnowdoingwasnothingbetterthanitshouldbe。Iwas，therefore，ingreatfearoftheirleavingmealtogether。Icontrived，however，topacifythembypromisesofpaymentofallscoresinfull，assoonasIcouldbringthepresentbusinesstoatermination。Tothesespeechestheygave，ofcourse，theirowninterpretation；fancying，nodoubt，thatatalleventsI
shouldcomeintopossessionofvastquantitiesofreadymoney；andprovidedIpaidthemallIowed，andatriflemore，inconsiderationoftheirservices，Idaresaytheycaredverylittlewhatbecameofeithermysoulormycarcass。
“InaboutfourhoursandahalfIfoundtheballoonsufficientlyinflated。Iattachedthecar，therefore，andputallmyimplementsinitnotforgettingthecondensingapparatus，acopioussupplyofwater，andalargequantityofprovisions，suchaspemmican，inwhichmuchnutrimentiscontainedincomparativelylittlebulk。Ialsosecuredinthecarapairofpigeonsandacat。Itwasnownearlydaybreak，andIthoughtithightimetotakemydeparture。Droppingalightedcigarontheground，asifbyaccident，Itooktheopportunity，instoopingtopickitup，ofignitingprivatelythepieceofslowmatch，whoseend，asIsaidbefore，protrudedaverylittlebeyondthelowerrimofoneofthesmallercasks。Thismanoeuvrewastotallyunperceivedonthepartofthethreeduns；and，jumpingintothecar，Iimmediatelycutthesinglecordwhichheldmetotheearth，andwaspleasedtofindthatIshotupward，carryingwithalleaseonehundredandseventy-fivepoundsofleadenballast，andabletohavecarriedupasmanymore。
“Scarcely，however，hadIattainedtheheightoffiftyyards，when，roaringandrumblingupaftermeinthemosthorribleandtumultuousmanner，camesodenseahurricaneoffire，andsmoke，andsulphur，andlegsandarms，andgravel，andburningwood，andblazingmetal，thatmyveryheartsunkwithinme，andIfelldowninthebottomofthecar，tremblingwithunmitigatedterror。Indeed，InowperceivedthatIhadentirelyoverdonethebusiness，andthatthemainconsequencesoftheshockwereyettobeexperienced。Accordingly，inlessthanasecond，Ifeltallthebloodinmybodyrushingtomytemples，andimmediatelythereupon，aconcussion，whichIshallneverforget，burstabruptlythroughthenightandseemedtoriptheveryfirmamentasunder。WhenIafterwardhadtimeforreflection，Ididnotfailtoattributetheextremeviolenceoftheexplosion，asregardedmyself，toitspropercausemysituationdirectlyaboveit，andinthelineofitsgreatestpower。Butatthetime，Ithoughtonlyofpreservingmylife。Theballoonatfirstcollapsed，thenfuriouslyexpanded，thenwhirledroundandroundwithhorriblevelocity，andfinally，reelingandstaggeringlikeadrunkenman，hurledmewithgreatforceovertherimofthecar，andleftmedangling，ataterrificheight，withmyheaddownward，andmyfaceoutwards，byapieceofslendercordaboutthreefeetinlength，whichhungaccidentallythroughacrevicenearthebottomofthewicker-work，andinwhich，asIfell，myleftfootbecamemostprovidentiallyentangled。Itisimpossibleutterlyimpossible
toformanyadequateideaofthehorrorofmysituation。IgaspedconvulsivelyforbreathashudderresemblingafitoftheagueagitatedeverynerveandmuscleofmyframeIfeltmyeyesstartingfromtheirsocketsahorriblenauseaoverwhelmedme
andatlengthIfaintedaway。
“HowlongIremainedinthisstateitisimpossibletosay。Itmust，however，havebeennoinconsiderabletime，forwhenIpartiallyrecoveredthesenseofexistence，Ifoundthedaybreaking，theballoonataprodigiousheightoverawildernessofocean，andnotatraceoflandtobediscoveredfarandwidewithinthelimitsofthevasthorizon。Mysensations，however，uponthusrecovering，werebynomeanssorifewithagonyasmighthavebeenanticipated。Indeed，therewasmuchofincipientmadnessinthecalmsurveywhichIbegantotakeofmysituation。Idrewuptomyeyeseachofmyhands，oneaftertheother，andwonderedwhatoccurrencecouldhavegivenrisetotheswellingoftheveins，andthehorribleblacknessofthefingemails。Iafterwardcarefullyexaminedmyhead，shakingitrepeatedly，andfeelingitwithminuteattention，untilIsucceededinsatisfyingmyselfthatitwasnot，asIhadmorethanhalfsuspected，largerthanmyballoon。Then，inaknowingmanner，Ifeltinbothmybreechespockets，and，missingtherefromasetoftabletsandatoothpickcase，endeavoredtoaccountfortheirdisappearance，andnotbeingabletodoso，feltinexpressiblychagrined。ItnowoccurredtomethatIsufferedgreatuneasinessinthejointofmyleftankle，andadimconsciousnessofmysituationbegantoglimmerthroughmymind。But，strangetosay！Iwasneitherastonishednorhorror-stricken。IfIfeltanyemotionatall，itwasakindofchucklingsatisfactionattheclevernessIwasabouttodisplayinextricatingmyselffromthisdilemma；andInever，foramoment，lookeduponmyultimatesafetyasaquestionsusceptibleofdoubt。
ForafewminutesIremainedwrappedintheprofoundestmeditation。I
haveadistinctrecollectionoffrequentlycompressingmylips，puttingmyforefingertothesideofmynose，andmakinguseofothergesticulationsandgrimacescommontomenwho，ateaseintheirarm-chairs，meditateuponmattersofintricacyorimportance。Having，asIthought，sufficientlycollectedmyideas，Inow，withgreatcautionanddeliberation，putmyhandsbehindmyback，andunfastenedthelargeironbucklewhichbelongedtothewaistbandofmyinexpressibles。Thisbucklehadthreeteeth，which，beingsomewhatrusty，turnedwithgreatdifficultyontheiraxis。Ibroughtthem，however，aftersometrouble，atrightanglestothebodyofthebuckle，andwasgladtofindthemremainfirminthatposition。
Holdingtheinstrumentthusobtainedwithinmyteeth，Inowproceededtountietheknotofmycravat。IhadtorestseveraltimesbeforeI
couldaccomplishthismanoeuvre，butitwasatlengthaccomplished。
TooneendofthecravatIthenmadefastthebuckle，andtheotherendItied，forgreatersecurity，tightlyaroundmywrist。Drawingnowmybodyupwards，withaprodigiousexertionofmuscularforce，I
succeeded，attheveryfirsttrial，inthrowingthebuckleoverthecar，andentanglingit，asIhadanticipated，inthecircularrimofthewicker-work。
“Mybodywasnowinclinedtowardsthesideofthecar，atanangleofaboutforty-fivedegrees；butitmustnotbeunderstoodthatIwasthereforeonlyforty-fivedegreesbelowtheperpendicular。Sofarfromit，Istilllaynearlylevelwiththeplaneofthehorizon；forthechangeofsituationwhichIhadacquired，hadforcedthebottomofthecarconsiderablyoutwardsfrommyposition，whichwasaccordinglyoneofthemostimminentanddeadlyperil。Itshouldberemembered，however，thatwhenIfellinthefirstinstance，fromthecar，ifIhadfallenwithmyfaceturnedtowardtheballoon，insteadofturnedoutwardlyfromit，asitactuallywas；orif，inthesecondplace，thecordbywhichIwassuspendedhadchancedtohangovertheupperedge，insteadofthroughacrevicenearthebottomofthecar，Isayitmaybereadilyconceivedthat，ineitherofthesesupposedcases，IshouldhavebeenunabletoaccomplishevenasmuchasIhadnowaccomplished，andthewonderfuladventuresofHansPfaallwouldhavebeenutterlylosttoposterity，Ihadthereforeeveryreasontobegrateful；although，inpointoffact，Iwasstilltoostupidtobeanythingatall，andhungfor，perhaps，aquarterofanhourinthatextraordinarymanner，withoutmakingtheslightestfartherexertionwhatsoever，andinasingularlytranquilstateofidioticenjoyment。Butthisfeelingdidnotfailtodierapidlyaway，andthereuntosucceededhorror，anddismay，andachillingsenseofutterhelplessnessandruin。Infact，thebloodsolongaccumulatinginthevesselsofmyheadandthroat，andwhichhadhithertobuoyedupmyspiritswithmadnessanddelirium，hadnowbeguntoretirewithintheirproperchannels，andthedistinctnesswhichwasthusaddedtomyperceptionofthedanger，merelyservedtodeprivemeoftheself-possessionandcouragetoencounterit。Butthisweaknesswas，luckilyforme，ofnoverylongduration。Ingoodtimecametomyrescuethespiritofdespair，and，withfranticcriesandstruggles，Ijerkedmywaybodilyupwards，tillatlength，clutchingwithavise-likegripthelong-desiredrim，Iwrithedmypersonoverit，andfellheadlongandshudderingwithinthecar。
“ItwasnotuntilsometimeafterwardthatIrecoveredmyselfsufficientlytoattendtotheordinarycaresoftheballoon。Ithen，however，examineditwithattention，andfoundit，tomygreatrelief，uninjured。Myimplementswereallsafe，and，fortunately，I
hadlostneitherballastnorprovisions。Indeed，Ihadsowellsecuredthemintheirplaces，thatsuchanaccidentwasentirelyoutofthequestion。Lookingatmywatch，Ifounditsixo’clock。Iwasstillrapidlyascending，andmybarometergaveapresentaltitudeofthreeandthree-quartermiles。Immediatelybeneathmeintheocean，layasmallblackobject，slightlyoblonginshape，seeminglyaboutthesize，andineverywaybearingagreatresemblancetooneofthosechildishtoyscalledadomino。Bringingmytelescopetobearuponit，IplainlydiscernedittobeaBritishninetyfour-gunship，close-hauled，andpitchingheavilyintheseawithherheadtotheW。S。W。Besidesthisship，Isawnothingbuttheoceanandthesky，andthesun，whichhadlongarisen。
“ItisnowhightimethatIshouldexplaintoyourExcellenciestheobjectofmyperilousvoyage。YourExcellencieswillbearinmindthatdistressedcircumstancesinRotterdamhadatlengthdrivenmetotheresolutionofcommittingsuicide。Itwasnot，however，thattolifeitselfIhadany，positivedisgust，butthatIwasharassedbeyondendurancebytheadventitiousmiseriesattendingmysituation。
Inthisstateofmind，wishingtolive，yetweariedwithlife，thetreatiseatthestallofthebookselleropenedaresourcetomyimagination。Ithenfinallymadeupmymind。Ideterminedtodepart，yetlivetoleavetheworld，yetcontinuetoexistinshort，todropenigmas，Iresolved，letwhatwouldensue，toforceapassage，ifIcould，tothemoon。Now，lestIshouldbesupposedmoreofamadmanthanIactuallyam，Iwilldetail，aswellasIamable，theconsiderationswhichledmetobelievethatanachievementofthisnature，althoughwithoutdoubtdifficult，andincontestablyfullofdanger，wasnotabsolutely，toaboldspirit，beyondtheconfinesofthepossible。
“Themoon’sactualdistancefromtheearthwasthefirstthingtobeattendedto。Now，themeanoraverageintervalbetweenthecentresofthetwoplanetsis59。9643oftheearth’sequatorialradii，oronlyabout237，000miles。Isaythemeanoraverageinterval。Butitmustbeborneinmindthattheformofthemoon’sorbitbeinganellipseofeccentricityamountingtonolessthan0。05484ofthemajorsemi-axisoftheellipseitself，andtheearth’scentrebeingsituatedinitsfocus，ifIcould，inanymanner，contrivetomeetthemoon，asitwere，initsperigee，theabovementioneddistancewouldbemateriallydiminished。But，tosaynothingatpresentofthispossibility，itwasverycertainthat，atallevents，fromthe237，000milesIwouldhavetodeducttheradiusoftheearth，say4，000，andtheradiusofthemoon，say1080，inall5，080，leavinganactualintervaltobetraversed，underaveragecircumstances，of231，920miles。Nowthis，Ireflected，wasnoveryextraordinarydistance。Travellingonlandhasbeenrepeatedlyaccomplishedattherateofthirtymilesperhour，andindeedamuchgreaterspeedmaybeanticipated。Butevenatthisvelocity，itwouldtakemenomorethan322daystoreachthesurfaceofthemoon。Therewere，however，manyparticularsinducingmetobelievethatmyaveragerateoftravellingmightpossiblyverymuchexceedthatofthirtymilesperhour，and，astheseconsiderationsdidnotfailtomakeadeepimpressionuponmymind，Iwillmentionthemmorefullyhereafter。