CHAPTER XXXI.

[Sidenote: Brilliant Colouring of _dense_ Clouds.]

[Sidenote: Aironaut lost in the _blue Fields_ of Air, by the Intervention of Clouds below him: which prevented all _farther_ Knowledge of his Situation, and also a Sight of the Earth itself.]

Section 172. A Thunder Cloud in most grotesque Form;—of superior Magnitude, Density, and +brightness+—a _celestial Colouring_; and whose _Shade_ was itself a _Colour_ of semi-transparent and transcendent _Blue_ and _Violet-Purple_;—remaining for several Minutes, _exactly under_ the Balloon, _tempted_ the Aironaut to descend into it; and, if possible, investigate its Structure and Composition.

Blanchard, he knew, had passed throu’ +many+ without Danger: any Fears that might otherwise have been entertained on that Head were therefore groundless: particularly as Gass, i.e. _inflammable Air_ and the _electric Fluid_ (supposing an electric Atmosphere had surrounded the Thunder Cloud) mutually _repel_ each other. He however declined the Trial: among other Reasons which then offered; that the temporary and apparent Rest of both Balloon and Clouds portended _his_ Situation to be over the Center of _some Water_: so that if _Gass_ had been let out in order to _descend_; _enough_ might _not_ have remained to make Choice of a proper Place to _land_.

173. Some Minutes after; on the _Retreat_ of the Clouds, or _progressive_ Motion of the Balloon; he found himself suspended over the most _enchanting_ Meanders of a Rivulet.

Where he coud not tell.