which, curiously enough, twice over in modern times comes into
the records of bold aerial exploits. This individual, it
appears, purchased a flying outfit of Besnier himself, and
surpassed his master in achievement. A little later one Dante
contrived some modification of the same apparatus, with which
he pursued the new mode of progress till he met with a
fractured thigh.

But whatever the imitators of Besnier may have accomplished, to
the honest smith must be accorded the full credit of their
success, and with his simple, but brilliant, record left at
flood mark, the tide of progress ebbed back again, while
mankind ruminated over the great problem in apparent
inactivity. But not for long. The air-pump about this period
was given to the world, and chemists were already busy
investigating the nature of gases. Cavallo was experimenting on
kindred lines, while in our own land the rival geniuses of
Priestley and Cavendish were clearing the way to make with
respect to the atmosphere the most important discovery yet
dreamed of. In recording this dawn of a new era, however, we
should certainly not forget how, across the Atlantic, had arisen
a Rumford and a Franklin, whose labours were destined to throw
an all-important sidelight on the pages of progress which we
have now to chronicle.



CHAPTER II. THE INVENTION OF THE BALLOON.