Its weight, along with that of the network, did not exceed two hundred and fifty pounds.
The consumption of these articles would necessarily, little by little, diminish the weight to be sustained, for it must be remembered that the equilibrium of a balloon floating in the atmosphere is extremely sensitive.
A solid shot of 108 inches would weigh more than 200,000 pounds, a weight evidently far too great.
The problem, therefore, is this-- What thickness ought a cast-iron shell to have in order not to weight more than 20,000 pounds?
When we reached the opening at the top Tars Tarkas drew to one side that I might pass out and investigate, as, owing to my lesser
weight and greater agility, I was better fitted for the perilous threading of this dizzy, hanging pathway.
Toby's animating 'come on' again sounded in my ears, and dreading to lose all confidence in myself if I remained meditating upon the step, I once more gazed down to assure myself of the relative bearing of the tree and my own position, and then closing my eyes and uttering one comprehensive ejaculation of prayer, I inclined myself over towards the abyss, and after one breathless instant fell with a crash into the tree, the branches snapping and cracking with my
weight, as I sunk lower and lower among them, until I was stopped by coming in contact with a sturdy limb.
The supporting power being estimated at 2500 pounds, and the united
weights of the party amounting only to about 1200, there was left a surplus of 1300, of which again 1200 was exhausted by ballast, arranged in bags of different sizes, with their respective
weights marked upon them - by cordage, barometers, telescopes, barrels containing provision for a fortnight, water-casks, cloaks, carpet-bags, and various other indispensable matters, including a coffee-warmer, contrived for warming coffee by means of slack-lime, so as to dispense altogether with fire, if it should be judged prudent to do so.
What astonishes me," said Nicholl, "is that the specific
weight of the body, which is certainly less than that of the projectile, allows it to keep so perfectly on a level with it.
This reflection must have great
weight in obviating that objection to the proposed plan, which is founded on the principle of expense; an objection, however, which, when we come to take a nearer view of it, will appear in every light to stand on mistaken ground.
It was an oldfashioned piece of furniture, with high back and ends, and it was so heavy that even by resting the greatest
weight upon the back of the Saw-Horse, the boy found himself out of breath when at last the clumsy sofa was dumped upon the roof.
To throw one's whole strength and
weight on the oars and to feel the boat checked in its forward lunge by the heavy drag behind, was not exactly exhilarating.
A shower of snow fell upon them, and, finding the Olive full of foliage, it settled upon its branches and broke them down with its
weight, at once despoiling it of its beauty and killing the tree.
