Then, unlucky chance, the balloon was caught in an adverse current, and began to drift toward the east.
Its distance from the mountain chain rapidly increased.

Despite all the efforts of the aeronaut, the citizens of Morganton saw the balloon disappear on the wrong horizon.

Later, they learned that it had landed in the neighborhood of Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina.
This attempt having failed, it was agreed that it should be tried again under better conditions.

Indeed, fresh rumblings were heard from the mountain, accompanied by heavy clouds and wavering glimmerings of light at night.

Folk began to realize that the Great Eyrie was a serious and perhaps imminent source of danger.