I am leaving for the Riviera shortly, and
on the shores of the Mediterranean I mean
to build another shed and continue my ex-
periments. I shall take all my apparatus,
my machinery for making hydrogen, and my
workmen, and with the Santos-Dumont VI.
will make trial trips over the water.
I have provided against falling into the
sea. The framework of the balloon will be
incased in an impermeable silk covering,
so that if I come down in the Mediterranean
I shall float. My guide rope, too, will be
made of what sailors call "bastin," so that
it will float on the surface of the sea and
serve as equilibrium in the same way I em-
ploy it when maneuvering over Longehamps
racecourse. I shall be followed by a steam
launch in case of accidents, and shall ex-
tend the radius of my excursions every day.
Then, on a nice, bright day, provided with
a message which I shall ask the postal au-
thorities to intrust to me for delivery at a
given spot in Corsica, I shall try to cross
from France to that island. I believe I shall
beat the mail boats, for they are slow
