GUY DE MAUPASSANT•French Writer

•One of the masters of modern Short stories.•Novelist, Short Story writer & poet.

A travelogue-From Paris to Belgium

The original title of this travelogue was “From Paris to Heyst” ‘Le Horla’ is a word from Brazil.‘Le’ means ‘There’Hors means outsiderLe Horla means The one out there.

INTRODUCTION

July 8th

Fine day. Always my predictions. Belgian frontier.Baggage and servants leave at noon. Preparation will start at 3.00 pm. So I will wait for you at the works from five o’clock on .Jovis

The story begins on 8th JulyThe author got a telegram. He read , “Fine dayas my predictions.” It was sent by Mr. Jovis. He invites the author to a place at Belgian frontier. Preparation will start at 3.00pm. Mr. Jovis would wait for author at five . The author entered the gas works of La Villette at sharp 5.00 pm`

DESCRIPTION OF THE BALLOON

In the courtyard the balloon appeared like a cake made of yellow cloth.It was lying flat under a rope.Two or three hundred people are looking at it.Some are examining the basket It’s a nice square basket for a human cargo.On the side of Mahagony plate in golden letters was written ‘Le Horla’

In the courtyardthe balloon appeared likea cake made of yellow cloth.

Two or three hundredpeople are looking at it.

LE HORLA

On the side of Mahagonyplate in golden letters was written

The people stood back as the gaswas entering into the balloon .It was filled through a longtube of the yellow cloth.The cloth is on the soil.The balloon swelled like a large worm.The helpers of captain Jovis set the netat the right place for the regulardistribution of pressure at every point. Slowly the balloon became large.

ATTITUDES

Another thought occurs to every one's mind, the way nature nourishes creatures after birth. It feeds the creatures through a long tube like the one that blows gas into the balloon.The crowd has began to criticize . Some had different opinions about the balloon. They predicted that the balloon will not complete its mission.But the travelers were optimistic and happy.

FINAL PREPARATIONS

The balloon appeared like a golden fruit.Wonderful pear seems to still ripening.

Captain Jovis and his assistants are busy with the final preparation.At that time the travelers dine at the canteen of the gas works on their day of flight.It’s the custom in the gas works of La Villette.When all came out, the balloon was moving .It was big and transparent.The balloon appeared like a golden fruit.Wonderful pear seems to still ripening. It was covered with the last rays of the setting sun.

The barometer and musical horn were brought Two trumpets, eatables, overcoats and raincoats are carried with the men in that flying basket.

The Gadget & Materials

Captain Jovis calls the passenger to enter into the basket.1st Lieutenant Mallet jumps abroad , climbing first on the air net between the basket and the balloon During night, he will watch the movements of Le Horla across the skies.

PASSENGERS

Mr. Etierine Beer got in after him.Mr. Paul Bessand , then Mr. Patrice Eyries.As the last person, the author got into the balloon.However, the basket was too heavy for the balloon.It was sure that all the passengers could not travel in that.So Mr. Eyries got out of the basket.He has done so without any regret.

Mr. Joliet stood erect on the edge of the basket.Mr. Joliet requested the ladies to move away a little from the balloon.Mr. Joliet seems to be a brave and commanding person

LE HORLA'S TAKE OFF

Afterwards, the ropes were cut off. In one second Le Horla flew skyward and it was a new experience. They floated and glided into the sky leaving Paris below. They could see the sun that had set, as they ascended about five hundred metres.

AERIAL VIEW OF PARIS

Paris spread out below like a bluish patches.They were cut by its streets. There were domes, towers, steeples of Paris are visible from the sky.The city was surrounded by the open country. There were green fields and dark woods around and long roads passed through them.The sun now reappeared.

They threw cigarette papers out of the basket to see whether they were rising or sinking.If the paper appeared falling like a stone, it meant that balloon was rising.If the paper appeared to shoot skyward , the balloon would be descending.The two barometers mark about five hundred metres.

Le Horla rising or sinking

Earth's view &its sound effect

It was dark on the earth , but the passengers were in the light.The passengers looked at the earth with great enthusiastic admiration.The earth looked like a coloured map.The view was superb.

SOUNDS DOWN THE VALLEY

The travelers could hear noises and could easily recognize them.They began to hear slight country noises.The cry of quail, the mewing of cats , the barking of dogs.The barking were identical when they bay at the moon.The cows woke up at the barn.The animals were scared of the monster moving through the air.

The passegers felt the sweet smell of the soil , of the hay , of flowers of the wet, green earth is scenting the air.The earth has slept now.But the earth monsters started to make noise, seeing the balloon.

Sometimes, the balloon started descending and then the caption threw overboard a handful of sand from a sand bag downwards. For them, the balloon was like a large toy. They played by controlling the balloon. It was free , obedient and sometimes like the slave of the air.

Le Horla as a toy

BEAUTYOF

NIGHT

Now the travelers reached a height of two thousands feet.They were rising and only could see twinkles above their head.Suddenly the moon rise on the edge of a cloud.They felt that the moon was below them.They felt they were sitting on the balcony.

The travelers lost all thoughts and memories and wildly enjoyed their journey . The barometers mark twelve hundred metres. Now we again went up to two thousand three hundred and fifty.The balloon was stopped because it cant rise up further because the air comes to a standing still. The balloon was losing its invisible blood by the escape-valve because it’s the blood keeps human alive In the balloon it’s the gas.

The earth was not visible to them as it was covered with milky vapour (white clouds). A silvery light appears and sky turn pale. The moon appeared like another huge balloon which was passing opposite to them. It was a rare experience and they felt they were floating along the space like a bird that don’t even have to flap their wings.

Suddenly it started to go down.Mr. Mallet cried to throw out more sands and stones. The stones and sand we throw came back into our faces as if someone thrown from below.Now its past midnight. The balloon reached quite near the earth.

TOWARDS BELGIUM

They were floating above an agricultural field toward Belgium. It was known to them by observing the polar star. They could see the shadow of Le Horla flying ahead along the ground. The shadow of Le Horla was like a huge ball

Beauty of Sunrise Belgium

The light of the town appeared before them. The captain heard the sound of the storm from the west, but he ignored it. The moon sets and it was dawn in the east. The cloud gathered behind them , hiding the moon. But towards the east the sky was becoming clear blue, tinged with red. The travelers could see the details on the earth.

The train , brook , cows and goats. Cocks started crowing and also could hear the voice of the ducks. The peasants waved their arms seeing the balloon. Ahead lies a bright highway. It looked like a long big river full of islands.

Landing of Le Horla

The captain said to get ready for the descent.He made Mr. Mallet to leave the net and return to the basket. Captain Jovis looked around for a good spot to land. We passed over a canal.The escape valve of the balloon was released .The basket trembled and tips over slightlyThe rope touched the tall trees . We passed with frightful speed over a large farm. The captain shouts “The escape valve!”. Mr. Mallet reached for the rope and with the cut of the code the anchor is cut and we drag at the field .

The passengers understood that they were going to touch the ground. But suddenly, the balloon flew up again. Even after landing, the balloon was struggling madly like a wounded animal. The farmers ran towards the balloon and everyone was surprised. With the help of the Belgian farmers they all packed up all their materials and carried to the station at Hayet . At 8.20 am , we took the train to Paris. The landing occurred at 3.15 am in the morning.

All of them thanked Captain Jovis .They were able to see in a single night, from far up in the sky, the setting of the sun, rising of the moon and dawn of the day.And also able to go from the Paris to the mouth of Scheldt( a river that flow through Belgium and empties into the North Sea.

THANKYOU