ces, sometimes excessively violent, caused by the
irregularities of the earth's surface and the consequent unequal
distribution of heat and cold. Besides the general serenity of the air
there are other reasons why the interior planet is really the only
true world where human flight is a complete success.

"We found that at a height of fifty miles the gravity caused by
centrifugal motion is exactly counterbalanced by the attraction of the
central sun overhead. At a height of sixty miles, if the wings remain
motionless, we perceptibly ascend with a slowly increasing motion
toward the sun, while the centrifugal gravity slowly lessens, owing to
the lesser circle of space traversed, the attraction of Swang as
gradually increases, and nothing but the strength of our wings
prevented our falling into the fires of the sun.

"Our chief discovery was the fact that there exists a belt of air at a
distance of between fifty and sixty miles above the earth, extremely
cold, in which there is no weight, and all objects therein float,
indifferent to the presence of the sun above or earth beneath. We saw
a distant globe hanging in this region of very small size, and through
the glass we could see mountains, rivers and seas thereon, but no
traces of cities or human life.

"During our stay in this imponderable region Flathootly expressed his
satisfaction by grotesque evolutions. He would fly, moving his legs as
if he were skating on ice, and again plunging as though he were diving
into the sea. Then he would fly upward feet foremost, as though he
were falling toward the sun.

"'Shure it's foine fun,' he said, 'to shtand upside down, flyin' an'
laughin' at the same toime.'

"'Take care,' I said, 'and don't fall upward.'

"'How can I fall upward when the ground's below me?' he inquired.

"'The earth below you has no attraction at this height,' I said; 'but
the sun is exerting its influence upon us. If we go any higher up
we'll be drawn into the fires of the sun and roasted alive.'

"'Be jabers, if that's so, I'll get down an' walk, an' you can fly
around as much as you loike,' said Flathootly.

"'If you descend you'll be arrested and executed as a spy. Remember,
we're in an enemy's country,' said I.

"'I'll tell you what I'll do then,' said he; 'now that I've got me
siven-leagued boots on, I'll jist go down an' jump from wan mountain
top to another.'

"Time would not permit us to stay longer in our high altitude,
consequently we