WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>A desperate adventure by Max Adler wanted four persons who

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<v Speaker 1>were bent upon committing suicide to engage in a hazardous adventure,

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<v Speaker 1>apply et cetera to Captain Cowgill, number blank, blank, blank Street,

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<v Speaker 1>after nine o'clock in the morning. Captain Cowgill inserted the

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<v Speaker 1>above advertisement in three of the morning papers. But the

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<v Speaker 1>result was that, between nine o'clock and noon, five men

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<v Speaker 1>and two women called at his office to inquire respecting

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<v Speaker 1>the nature of the proposed adventure, and to offer their

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<v Speaker 1>services in the event that it should involve nothing of

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<v Speaker 1>a criminal character. Of these seven, Captain Cowgill selected four,

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<v Speaker 1>three men and one young woman, and when he had

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<v Speaker 1>dismissed the others, he shut the door and said to

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<v Speaker 1>the four applicants, what I wanted you for was this.

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<v Speaker 1>I have made up my mind that the North Pole

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<v Speaker 1>can never be reached by an exploring party traveling upon

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<v Speaker 1>ships and sledges. The only route that is possibly practicable

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<v Speaker 1>is through the air, and the only available vehele, of course,

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<v Speaker 1>is a balloon. But an attempt to reach the pole

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<v Speaker 1>in a balloon must expose the explorers to desperate risks.

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<v Speaker 1>And it occurred to me that those risks had better

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<v Speaker 1>be taken by persons who do not value their lives

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<v Speaker 1>than by persons who do. It has always seemed to

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<v Speaker 1>me that a part of the sin of suicide lies

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<v Speaker 1>in the fact that the life wantonly sacrificed might have

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<v Speaker 1>been expended in a cause which would have conferred benefits

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<v Speaker 1>directly or indirectly upon the human race. I have a

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<v Speaker 1>large and superbly equipped balloon which will be thoroughly stocked

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<v Speaker 1>for a voyage to the Arctic regions, and among other things,

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<v Speaker 1>it will contain apparatus for making fresh supplies of hydrogen gas?

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<v Speaker 1>Are you four persons willing to make the required attempt

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<v Speaker 1>in this balloon? All four of the visitors answered yes.

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<v Speaker 1>Were you going to sacrifice your lives at any rate?

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<v Speaker 1>An affirmative answer was given by the four. Permit me

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<v Speaker 1>to take your names, said Captain Cowgill, and he wrote

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<v Speaker 1>them down as follows. William P. Crutter, Doctor, Henry o'hagen,

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<v Speaker 1>Edmund Jarnville, Mary Dermott. Mister Crutter was a man apparently

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<v Speaker 1>of about sixty years, handsomely dressed, manifestly a gentleman, but

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<v Speaker 1>with a flushed face which indicated that he had perhaps

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<v Speaker 1>indulged to some extent in dissipation. Doctor o'hagen was thin, pallid,

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<v Speaker 1>and careworn. He looked as if he was ill, and

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<v Speaker 1>as if all joy were dead in his heart. Mister

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<v Speaker 1>Jarnville appeared to be a working man, but his countenance,

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<v Speaker 1>sad as it was, was full of intelligence, and his

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<v Speaker 1>manner was that of a man who had occupied a

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<v Speaker 1>social position much above the lowest. Mister Mott sat with

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<v Speaker 1>an air of dejection, her hands in her lap, and

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<v Speaker 1>a thin and faded shawl pinned about her, and with

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<v Speaker 1>her pale cheeks suggestive of hunger and mental suffering. My hope,

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<v Speaker 1>said Captain Cowgill, is that you will safely reach your

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<v Speaker 1>destination and safely return, but you fully understand that the

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<v Speaker 1>chances are against you. For my own protection, I will

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<v Speaker 1>ask that you certify in writing that you go with

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<v Speaker 1>full knowledge of the risks. I will inflate the balloon tomorrow.

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<v Speaker 1>Day after tomorrow, come to this office at nine o'clock,

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<v Speaker 1>and you shall then make the ascent at once. On

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<v Speaker 1>the appointed day, the four volunteers appeared, and Captain Cowgill

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<v Speaker 1>drove with them in a carriage to a yard in

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<v Speaker 1>the outskirts of the city, where the balloon, inflated and

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<v Speaker 1>swaying to and fro in the wind, was held to

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<v Speaker 1>the earth by stout ropes. The three men were supplied

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<v Speaker 1>with warm clothing, but mister Mott had only her threadbare shawl,

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<v Speaker 1>and so Captain Cowgill gave her his overcoat and two blankets,

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<v Speaker 1>which he took from the carriage. While the voyagers were

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<v Speaker 1>taking their place in the commodious car attached to the balloon,

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<v Speaker 1>a young man entered the yard and hurriedly approached Captain Cowgill.

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<v Speaker 1>I am going with the balloon, he said, almost fiercely,

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<v Speaker 1>and hardly deigning to look at the captain. Am I possible?

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<v Speaker 1>Said the captain. The crew is made up. You don't

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<v Speaker 1>comprehend our purpose? Yes I do, said the young man.

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<v Speaker 1>These people are would be suicides, and they are starting

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<v Speaker 1>for the pole. I am going along, But my dear sir,

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<v Speaker 1>began the captain, in a tone of expostulation. I will

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<v Speaker 1>go or I will slay myself right here before you.

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<v Speaker 1>These people are not any more tired of life than

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<v Speaker 1>I am. Let him come, said doctor o'hagen gloomily, but

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<v Speaker 1>returned Captain Cowgill I am afraid the balloon will be overloaded.

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<v Speaker 1>I am going anyhow, said the young man, as he

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<v Speaker 1>leaped into the car. Captain Cowgill sighed and said, well,

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<v Speaker 1>have your own way about it. My name is John Wyndon,

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<v Speaker 1>remarked the intruder. I tell you so that you we

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<v Speaker 1>will know if any one inquires after me. But I

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<v Speaker 1>don't imagine anybody will. Then Captain Cowgill bade farewell to

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<v Speaker 1>the party. The ropes were loosed, and the balloon went

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<v Speaker 1>sailing swiftly towards the clouds. Doctor o'hagen was the navigator

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<v Speaker 1>in charge. Presently, a northeasterly current of wind struck the airship,

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<v Speaker 1>and it began to move with great rapidity upon a

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<v Speaker 1>horizontal line. For a long time, nobody in the car spoke. Indeed,

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<v Speaker 1>the voyagers scarcely looked at each other, and none had

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<v Speaker 1>enough curiosity to peer over the side upon the glorious

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<v Speaker 1>landscape that lay bene But after a while, mister Crutter,

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<v Speaker 1>gazing at mister Mott, said, are you fully resolved upon

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<v Speaker 1>self destruction? Yes, she replied, so am, I said, mister Crutter,

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<v Speaker 1>So am, I remarked, mister Wyndon, So am, I observed

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<v Speaker 1>mister Jarnville, and I also added doctor Ohagen. Even if

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<v Speaker 1>we reached the pole safe and return, I shall not

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<v Speaker 1>want to live, said mister Crutter. Neither shall I said

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<v Speaker 1>mister Mont. Nor I remarked mister Wyndon. Nor I added

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<v Speaker 1>doctor Ohagen and mister Jarnville in a breath. Then there

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<v Speaker 1>was silence for the space of half an hour or more.

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<v Speaker 1>Mister Crutter then remarked, do you know I find this

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<v Speaker 1>to be a rather pleasant experience, sailing along here through

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<v Speaker 1>the ether, calmly, far above the distractions of the world.

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<v Speaker 1>If I were not so miserable, I think I should

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<v Speaker 1>really enjoy it. I am too unhappy to enjoy anything,

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<v Speaker 1>said mister mont. But this, I confess, is not unpleasant.

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<v Speaker 1>Pleasant enough, remarked mister Wyndon. If a man had no

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<v Speaker 1>anguish in his soul, I had no idea that there

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<v Speaker 1>was so much exhilaration in the upper regions of the atmosphere,

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<v Speaker 1>said doctor Ohagen rather cheerily. I think I feel better myself,

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<v Speaker 1>said mister Jarnville. It is very strange, observed mister Crutter,

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<v Speaker 1>addressing mister Mott, that young people like you and mister

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<v Speaker 1>Wyndon here should be weary of life. That an old

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<v Speaker 1>man like me should long for death is comprehensible. But

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<v Speaker 1>why do you wish to die? Neither mister Wyndon nor

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<v Speaker 1>mister Mott made any response. I'll tell you, said doctor o'hagen,

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<v Speaker 1>throwing a bag of ballast overboard to check the descent

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<v Speaker 1>of the balloon. We are all going to destruction together,

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<v Speaker 1>and why should we, not, as companions in misery, unfold

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<v Speaker 1>our grease to each other. It would be very proper,

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<v Speaker 1>I think, said mister Crutter, And I will begin, if

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<v Speaker 1>the rest will consent to follow. The other four travelers

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<v Speaker 1>agreed to do so. Well, I haven't much to tell,

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<v Speaker 1>said mister Crutter. In fact, I have always had plenty

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<v Speaker 1>of money with which to live in idleness and luxury,

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<v Speaker 1>and I have so lived. I have tried every kind

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<v Speaker 1>of pleasure life can afford and money can buy, and

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<v Speaker 1>I have reached a condition of saciety. Moreover, I have

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<v Speaker 1>ruined my digestion, and I am now a sufferer from

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<v Speaker 1>chronic dyspepsia of a horrible kind. This makes existence a burden.

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<v Speaker 1>I am eager to quit it. That is the whole story.

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<v Speaker 1>How strange the difference between us, said doctor o'hagen. I

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<v Speaker 1>have been deeply engaged in a practice of my profession

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<v Speaker 1>for many years, and I am utterly worn out and

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<v Speaker 1>broken down with overwork. I am nervous, exhausted, irritable and wretched.

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<v Speaker 1>But I have lost my savings in a speculative venture

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<v Speaker 1>and cannot rest. I must either work or die. That

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<v Speaker 1>is partly my case, said mister Mont. I am friendless

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<v Speaker 1>and poor, and I cannot earn enough by sewing to

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<v Speaker 1>buy sufficient food. And I can no longer face the

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<v Speaker 1>misery that I have endured for so many years. I

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<v Speaker 1>prefer death a thousand times. And I, said mister Jarnville,

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<v Speaker 1>am a disappointed inventor. I have for years labored upon

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<v Speaker 1>the construction of a smoke consumer, but now that it

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<v Speaker 1>is done, I have not money enough to pay for

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<v Speaker 1>a patent, and I am starving. After trying everywhere to

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<v Speaker 1>obtain assistance, I have resolved to give up the struggle

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<v Speaker 1>and to find refuge in the grave. Mister Wyndon cleared

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<v Speaker 1>his throat once or twice before beginning his story. He

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<v Speaker 1>seemed to labor under some embarrassment. The truth is, he said,

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<v Speaker 1>I was rechecked last night by a young lady whom

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<v Speaker 1>I love, and I made up my mind that life

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<v Speaker 1>without her would not be worth having. Nobody spoke for

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<v Speaker 1>some time, and then doctor o'hagen said, the balloon is falling,

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<v Speaker 1>and instead of throwing out ballast, I think it might

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<v Speaker 1>be better perhaps to let it come down and to

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<v Speaker 1>tie it to a tree and make a fresh start

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<v Speaker 1>with additional gas in the morning. The other aeronauts gave

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<v Speaker 1>their approval to this plan, and doctor O'Hagan threw out

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<v Speaker 1>the grapinal. It caught upon a tree top, and after

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<v Speaker 1>some difficulty, the balloon was brought down tied fast while

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<v Speaker 1>the whole party stepped out of the car. It was

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<v Speaker 1>a wild and desolate place, but the four men started

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<v Speaker 1>a fire, and while mister Wyndon and mister Jarnville prepared supper,

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<v Speaker 1>Doctor o'hagen and mister Crutter went to work to arrange

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<v Speaker 1>some kind of shelter for mister Mott for the night.

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<v Speaker 1>After supper, the five people gathered about the fire, and

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<v Speaker 1>there really seemed to be a growth of cheerfulness in

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<v Speaker 1>the party. I've been thinking, said mister Crutter, what an

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<v Speaker 1>outrageous shame it is that this poor child here, pointing

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<v Speaker 1>to mister Mott, should actually be in want of food,

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<v Speaker 1>while I have more money than I know what to

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<v Speaker 1>do with. I'll tell you what, mister Mott. If you

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<v Speaker 1>will agree to go back, you can have my whole fortune.

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<v Speaker 1>I've left it to an asylum, but I'll write a

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<v Speaker 1>new will now and tell you where you can find

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<v Speaker 1>the other one, so as to tear it up. I

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<v Speaker 1>don't want to go back, said mister Mott. I would

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<v Speaker 1>if I were you, said mister Wyndon. It's a shame

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<v Speaker 1>for you to go upon such an awful journey as this.

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<v Speaker 1>And I've been thinking, mister Jarnville, since you spoke about

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<v Speaker 1>your smoke consumer, that my father, who was a wealthy

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<v Speaker 1>iron mill owner, has offered a large reward for a

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<v Speaker 1>perfect contrivance of that sort. If yours is a good one,

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<v Speaker 1>he will help you to a fortune. I wish I

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<v Speaker 1>had known that yesterday, said mister Jarnville. Yes, doctor o'hagen,

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<v Speaker 1>and if I had known that mister Crutter here was

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<v Speaker 1>being driven to suicide by dyspepsia, I could have helped them,

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<v Speaker 1>for I have been very successful in treating that complaint.

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<v Speaker 1>Let me examine you mister Creutter, Yes, said the doctor,

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<v Speaker 1>after expending a few moments looking at and talking to you,

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<v Speaker 1>mister Crutter, I feel certain I can cure you. I

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<v Speaker 1>would have given you half my fortune yesterday for such

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<v Speaker 1>an assurance, said mister Crutter. But it's now too late.

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<v Speaker 1>If I had met you, then, said the doctor, I

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<v Speaker 1>should not have been here. Now. Can't we all go

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<v Speaker 1>back again, said mister Jarnville. Impossible, said doctor o'hagen. I've

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<v Speaker 1>got nothing to go back for, said miss Wyndon. There

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<v Speaker 1>is no remedy for my trouble that I can perceive.

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<v Speaker 1>There are other young ladies who would make good wives,

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<v Speaker 1>said mister Crutter. Oh I know, but said mister Wyndon,

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<v Speaker 1>hesitating and looking furtively at mister Mott. Mister Mott blushed.

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<v Speaker 1>Suppose we rest for the night and sleep on the matter,

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<v Speaker 1>said doctor o'hagen. There's no use being in a hurry.

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<v Speaker 1>Mister Mott retired to sleep beneath the shelter of bows,

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<v Speaker 1>where were strewn some pines and hemlock branches. Doctor o'hagen

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<v Speaker 1>covered her carefully with the blankets, and then the four

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<v Speaker 1>men stretched themselves by the fire and fell asleep. The

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<v Speaker 1>conversation between the travelers must inevitably have had a good effect.

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<v Speaker 1>The sheerst remedy for a morbid propensity to brood over

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<v Speaker 1>one's own troubles is to have our sympathy excited for

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<v Speaker 1>the troubles of other people. After breakfast in the morning,

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<v Speaker 1>mister Crutter said, I have solemnly considered all that was

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<v Speaker 1>said last night, and I have a proposition to make

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<v Speaker 1>Doctor o'hagen, if you will return with mister Mott and

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<v Speaker 1>mister Jarnville. You three may divide my fortune between you

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<v Speaker 1>and mister Wyndon can give a letter to his father

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<v Speaker 1>to mister Jarnville about the smoke Consummer and dear mister

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<v Speaker 1>Wyndon and I will continue this journey together. How will

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<v Speaker 1>that do? I am willing to drop off in return,

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<v Speaker 1>said mister Jarnville. I will go only on condition you

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<v Speaker 1>will go. Also, said doctor o'hagen. I will make you

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<v Speaker 1>a well man if you agree. But said mister Crutter,

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<v Speaker 1>it would be a shame to leave Wyndon here alone

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<v Speaker 1>with this balloon. No, I have had enough of life.

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<v Speaker 1>I'll proceed on the voyage. There is a good deal

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<v Speaker 1>of force in what the doctor says though, remarked mister Wyndon.

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<v Speaker 1>Why you are not thinking I'm of back and out too,

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<v Speaker 1>are you, inquired mister Crutter. Well, I don't know, said

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<v Speaker 1>mister Wyndon, looking half ashamed. It seemed to me last night,

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<v Speaker 1>when I got to thinking about it, that a woman's

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<v Speaker 1>scorn is hardly worth a man's life. And I you're right,

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<v Speaker 1>said mister Crutter. It isn't suppose we put the matter

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<v Speaker 1>in this way. If doctor o'hagen cures me, I will

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<v Speaker 1>pay him fifty thousand dollars in cash, and I will

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<v Speaker 1>go into partnership with mister Jarnville in his invention. We

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<v Speaker 1>can see your father about it, and you can return

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<v Speaker 1>to him while I adopt mister Mott as my daughter.

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<v Speaker 1>I had thought, said mister Wyndon, of a slightly different plan,

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<v Speaker 1>but possibly it could not be carried out. What was that,

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<v Speaker 1>asked doctor o'hagen. Why, said mister Wyndon. I thought perhaps,

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<v Speaker 1>But no, there's no use of mentioning it out with it,

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<v Speaker 1>said mister Crutter. We want the opinions of all hands.

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<v Speaker 1>I did think, said mister Wyndon, that possibly mister Mott,

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<v Speaker 1>instead of becoming your daughter, would consent to become my wife?

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<v Speaker 1>Would you entertain such a proposition, mister Mott. Mister Mott

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<v Speaker 1>hung her head and seemed to be covered with confusion.

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<v Speaker 1>I will think about it, she said. That means she

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<v Speaker 1>will give her consent, said mister Crutter, smiling. Let her

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<v Speaker 1>come with me while she's thinking the matter over. Are

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<v Speaker 1>you all agreed to my plan? Everybody expressed a cent

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<v Speaker 1>to it, and everybody seemed happy. Why what is that,

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<v Speaker 1>suddenly exclaimed mister Mont, pointing to a distant object above them.

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<v Speaker 1>I verily believe that is our balloon, said doctor o'hagen. Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>it is gone. It must have broken loose while we

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<v Speaker 1>were at breakfast. Oh well, said mister crutterer let it go.

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<v Speaker 1>Who cares. I'll pay Captain Cowgill for his losses. And

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<v Speaker 1>now let us see about getting home. Mister Wyndon and

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<v Speaker 1>mister Jarnville started to hunt for a conveyance, and in

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<v Speaker 1>about two hours they returned with one. The nearest railway

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<v Speaker 1>station was thirteen miles away, but in two more hours

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<v Speaker 1>the party reached it, and while mister Crutter purchased tickets

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<v Speaker 1>for the coming train, doctor o'hagen went into the telegraph

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<v Speaker 1>office and sent the following dispatch. Captain W. A. Cowgill

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<v Speaker 1>balloon escaped party, all safe, perfectly happy. Will reach home

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<v Speaker 1>tomorrow morning, Signed Henry o'hagen. End of a desperate adventure.