ence let him leap with all his energy, in a direction at right
angles with the shaft of the column, into the open air; and it will be
found that, though the original impulsion would not probably impel the
body more than ten or twelve feet, motion would continue until it had
reached the earth. Corollary: hence it is proved that all bodies in
which the vis inertia has been overcome will continue in motion, until
they come in contact with some power capable of stopping them."

"King!--Do you not think, Mr. Reasono, that the 'arth makes its circuit,
as much owing to this said steam of yours shoving, as it were, always
a little on one side, acting thereby in some fashion as a rudder, which
causes her to keep waring as we seamen call it, and as big crafts take
more room than small ones in waring, why, she is compelled to run so
many millions of miles, before, as it were, she comes up to the wind
ag'in? Now, there is reason in such an idee; whereas, I never could
reconcile it to my natur', that these little bits of stars should keep
a craft like the 'arth in her course, with such a devil of a way on her,
as we know in reason she must have, to run so far in a twelvemonth.
Why, the smallest yaw--and, for a hooker of her keel, a thousand miles
wouldn't be a broader yaw than a hundred feet in a ship--the smallest
yaw would send her aboard of the Jupiter, or the Marcury, when there
would be a smashing of out-board work such as mortal never before
witnessed!"

"We rather lean to the opinion of the efficacy of attraction, sir; nor
do I see that your proposition would at all obviate your own objection."

"Then, sir, I will just explain myself. Let us suppose there was a
steamer with a hundred miles of keel; let us suppose the steam up,
and the craft with a broad offing; let us suppose her helm lash'd hard
aport, and she going at the rate of ten thousand knots the hour, without
bringing up or shortening sail for years at a time. Now, all this being
admitted, what would be her course? Why, sir, any child could tell you,
she would keep turning in a circle of some fifty or a hundred thousand
miles in circumference; and such, it appears to me, it is much more
rational to suppose is the natur' of the 'arth's traversing, than all
this steering small among stars and attractions."

"There is truly something very plausible, Captain Poke, in your
suggestion; and I propose that you shall profit by the first occasion to
lay your opinions on the