stance
lighter than air, and so he would seem to have, at least, hit upon the
principle underlying the construction of the modern balloon. Roger Bacon
had ideas far in advance of his time, and his experiments made such an
impression of wonder on the popular mind that they were believed to be
wrought by black magic, and the worthy monk was classed among those who
were supposed to be in league with Satan.

CHAPTER III. The First Man to Ascend in a Balloon

The safe descent of the three animals, which has already been related,
showed the way for man to venture up in a balloon. In our time we marvel
at the daring of modern airmen, who ascend to giddy heights, and, as
it were, engage in mortal combat with the demons of the air. But,
courageous though these deeds are, they are not more so than those of
the pioneers of ballooning.

In the eighteenth century nothing was known definitely of the conditions
of the upper regions of the air, where, indeed, no human being had
ever been; and though the frail Montgolfier balloons had ascended and
descended with no outward happenings, yet none could tell what might
be the risk to life in committing oneself to an ascent. There was, too,
very special danger in making an ascent in a hot-air balloon. Underneath
the huge envelope was suspended a brazier, so that the fabric of the
balloon was in great danger of catching fire.

It was at first suggested that two French criminals under sentence of
death should be sent up, and, if they made a safe descent, then the
way would be open for other aeronauts to venture aloft. But everyone
interested in aeronautics in those days saw that the man who first
traversed the unexplored regions of the air would be held in high
honour, and it seemed hardly right that this honour should fall to
criminals. At any rate this was the view of M. Pilatre de Rozier, a
French gentleman, and he determined himself to make the pioneer ascent.

De Rozier had no false notion of the risks he was prepared to run, and
he superintended with the greatest care the construction of his balloon.
It was of enormous size, with a cage slung underneath the brazier for
heating the air. Befors making his free ascent De Rozier made a trial
ascent with the balloon held captive by a long rope.

At length, in November, 1783, accompanied by the Marquis d'Arlandes as
a passenger, he determined to venture. The experiment aroused immense
excitement all over France, and a large concourse