Five Weeks in a Balloon by Jules Verne
page 62 of 453 (13%)
page 62 of 453 (13%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
Messrs. Mitchell, where one of those so-called "Roman"
scales was in readiness. It was necessary, by the way, for the doctor to know the weight of his companions, so as to fix the equilibrium of his balloon; so he made Dick get up on the platform of the scales. The latter, without making any resistance, said, in an undertone: "Oh! well, that doesn't bind me to any thing." "One hundred and fifty-three pounds," said the doctor, noting it down on his tablets. "Am I too heavy?" "Why, no, Mr. Kennedy!" said Joe; "and then, you know, I am light to make up for it." So saying, Joe, with enthusiasm, took his place on the scales, and very nearly upset them in his ready haste. He struck the attitude of Wellington where he is made to ape Achilles, at Hyde-Park entrance, and was superb in it, without the shield. "One hundred and twenty pounds," wrote the doctor. "Ah! ha!" said Joe, with a smile of satisfaction And why did he smile? He never could tell himself. "It's my turn now," said Ferguson--and he put down one hundred and thirty-five pounds to his own account. |
|