They were not due yet for another two
hours, and during this time a hundred things might happen, any one of
which would undo me.
At last the balloon was full; the pipe which had filled it was removed,
the escape of the gas having been first carefully precluded. Nothing
remained to hinder the balloon from ascending but the hands and weight of
those who were holding on to it with ropes. I strained my eyes for the
coming of the King and Queen, but could see no sign of their approach. I
looked in the direction of Mr. Nosnibor's house--there was nothing to
indicate disturbance, but it was not yet breakfast time. The crowd began
to gather; they were aware that I was under the displeasure of the court,
but I could detect no signs of my being unpopular. On the contrary, I
received many kindly expressions of regard and encouragement, with good
wishes as to the result of my journey.
I was speaking to one gentleman of my acquaintance, and telling him the
substance of what I intended to do when I had got into the presence of
the air god (what he thought of me I cannot guess, for I am sure that he
did not believe in the objective existence of the air god, nor that I
myself believed in it), when I became aware of a small crowd of people
running as fast as they could from Mr.
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