65. The Pepper Salt and Ginger were tasted, and found to retain their usual Pungency: contrary to what Travellers have reported to happen on the Peak of Teneriffe. [Sidenote: Silk electric.] The small Hank of yellow raw Silk tyed to the upper Hoop, and hanging down from it, appeared _rough_, as if electric: and, tho’ drawn thro’ the Hand, continued _furred_ as before. [Sidenote: _White_ Flag wholly hung out from the Car.] 66. It was now thought a proper Time to finish the original Work of unwinding the remaining Part of the half Mile of Twine: which proved equally tedious, as at the first; and took up a considerable Time. When completed, the _white_ Flag was extended exactly half a Mile from the Car. [Sidenote: Cattle discovered from the Balloon.] [Sidenote: Ballast thrown out,] 67. Perceiving that the Balloon was descending very _briskly_, by the Appearance of Cattle in the Corner of a Field; first, _one_ of the two solid Weights was cast down: then the _other_. [Sidenote: Time in falling estimated.] A Return of Sound to the Balloon, from the lighter which weighed five Pounds, was heard in 130 Countings of a Watch, which made 120 of the same full Beats in a Minute. Before the Weight became invisible; it _appeared_ to move a good Deal out of the Perpendicular: owing either to an under Current; or to a Deception of Sight, respecting the horizontal Motion of the Balloon in a different Direction, during the Descent of the Stone. The other must have fallen in soft Grass, or otherwise: as it was not heard. CHAPTER XI. Section 68. At 28 Minutes past II. the solid Weights before mentioned were thrown out. At 29 Minutes the Barometer had fallen to 25 Inches. [Sidenote: Balloon reascending.] A Handful of Feathers were sent adrift, which fell quick: demonstrating _likewise_ the Ascent of the Balloon, a second Time: but, tho’ 12 Pounds lighter, it did not seem to regain its original Height: judging +merely+ from this Circumstance, that no more Gass escaped _visibly_ from the Mouth. [Sidenote: Apparent Size and Situation of the _white_ Flag.] 69. It is somewhat remarkable, that, on repeated Enquiries from unprejudiced Persons, the _white_ Flag, when suspended from the Car above 440 Yards, appeared 4 Yards long: and when at the end of the _half Mile_ Twine, seemed about 8 Yards long, to Spectators from below, in different Places: that sometimes it appeared before, and sometimes behind the Balloon: while to the Observer in the Car, it seemed regularly to follow the Balloon: unless when a _new_ Motion was impressed upon the latter: at which Time the _white_ Flag was situated almost under the Car: or when the Balloon changed its Direction; the Flag being _then_ not always _discoverable_. When seen _edgewise_ or _foreshortened_; it woud _appear_ to be _nearer_ the Car than it really was. [Sidenote: Effect of the _white_ Flag on the Balloon.]