Australian Tales - Setis

“Driving a Hard Bargain.”
WHEN on a visit to England, I went one day to the farfamed gardens at
Kew, where I saw, amongst many other things worthy of admiration, a
variety of Australian shrubs, &c., which carried my gratified feelings
away for a time to my loved adopted land far over the sea.
Returning to London by railway, the train stopped for a few minutes at
the Vauxhall station, when my attention was attracted to a placard,
announcing that a “monster balloon” would ascend from some celebrated
gardens in that vicinity, at seven o'clock, and would have
accommodation for four passengers.
Having travelled by almost every other mode of conveyance, I was
seized with a strong desire to try a sail in a balloon, and get a bird's-eye
view of London at the same time. So I alighted from the train, and
walked straightway to the gardens before mentioned, whither crowds of
people were wending their way. On paying the fee for admission, I was
presented with a ticket, which entitled me to an equal chance with the
other visitors, to a seat in the balloon car.
The process of filling the balloon with gas now commenced; and for a
small additional fee I was permitted to go within an enclosure and
witness the manipulations. In a comparatively short time the enormous
sphere of silk and network was sufficiently inflated, when that veteran
aëronaut, Mr. Green, got into the car, and another man — his chief mate,
I supposed — seated himself upon a sort of hoop above the car, and
began to overhaul the valve lines; while Mr. Green arranged the ballast
bags, coiled away sundry ropes, and secured his grapnels, with the
carefulness and coolness of an expert yachtsman, when seeing his tacks
and sheets all clear. In the meantime, a large black board was elevated in
a conspicuous part of the garden, with four numbers chalked upon it; and
the fortunate holders of tickets corresponding to those numbers were
invited to show themselves. I was not one of the fortunate ones, so I saw
that my chance of a ride in the air was gone, unless I could purchase a
seat, as other persons, ambitious of lofty position, have done.
In a short time four men hurried into the enclosure to claim their
privileges as holders of the lucky numbers; so selecting the most
nervous-looking man, I asked him if he would sell his ticket.
“Yes, sir,” said the man, while his face underwent a rapid change for
the better, “you shall have it for a pound.”