9. THE TRIP OF LE HORLA

  9. THE TRIP OF LE HORLA

The Trip of Le Horla is about the author's ride in a hot air balloon.Here the author presents it like a travelogue.On July 8 th author gets telegram from Captain Jovis to join them  for balloon trip. He joins other participants for balloon trip.When he reached there he  found that people had gathered in huge numbers to see the journey of the balloon. The balloon was lying on the ground like a huge cake.All the peple were looking at Le Horla very anxiously.Le Horla rose up with the huge cheering and applause of the viewers.While the air balloon was in air they could see the entire Paris city.The balloon reached nearly 2000 feet high..When the participants looked down from the balloon, they could see very beautiful sights far below. When it was night they could hear the sounds of animals and birds from the village.To test whether the balloon was moving up or down they threw cigarette paper down.If the paper went down fast ,it meant the balloon was flying up.If the paper went up ,it meant the balloon was flying down.To control balloon sand was kept .Till the night thy floated in air very freely and happily.By the time it was night they could see only moon .By then it was beginning to be morning.They could see train,streams,cows and the whole village. 

By that time the hot air balloon got trapped in a wind. The situation turned a little dangerous. The birds and animals showed alarming signals.Jovis took special care that the passengers do not get tense. All the crew supported captain Jovis so that passengers wil not get disturbed. Mallet who was the first assistant of Jovis supported him to come down. He again cut the rope and suddenly the balloon reached down. The villagers ran towards them and helped them to come out of the balloon which was now on the floor .The peasants helped them to reach railway station for catching the train to Paris. They reached Paris and took train to Paris. Author concludes the travelogue with a special congratulation to Jovis as he could plan and control the whole journey very cautiously. Even when there was dangerous situations he managed the same with his will power . 

Here Maupassant gives the description so beautifully so that we feel that we see the journey from the beginning to the end. The narration is extremely beautiful.