The works of Edgar Allan Poe; newly collected and edited, with a memoir, critical introductions, and notes, by Edmund Clarence Stedman and George Edward Woodberry; the illustrations by Albert Edward Sterner.

TALES OF PSEUDO-SCIENCE

nately, upon the back of the burgomaster, and rolled
him over and 'over no less than half a dozen times,
in the face of every individual in Rotterdam. It
is not to be supposed, however, that the great
Underduk suffered this impertinence on the part
of the little old man to pass off with impunity. It
is said, on the contrary, that during each of his halfdozen circumvolutions he emitted no less than half
a dozen distinct and furious whiffs from his pipe,
to which he held fast the whole time with all his
might, and to which he intends holding fast (God
willing) until the day of his decease.
In the mean time the balloon arose like a lark,
and, soaring far away above the city, at length
drifted quietly behind a cloud similar to that from
which it had so oddly emerged, and was thus lost
forever to the wondering eyes of the good citizens
of Rotterdam. All attention was now directed to
the letter, the descent of which, and the consequences
attending thereupon, had proved so fatally subversive
of both person and personal dignity to his Excellency,
Von Underduk. That functionary, however, had not
failed, during his circumgyratory movements, to bestow a thought upon the important object of securing the epistle, which was seen, upon inspection, to
have fallen into the most proper hands, being actually
addressed to himself and Professor Rubadub, in their
official capacities of President and Vice-President of
the Rotterdam College of Astronomy. It was acoordingly opened by those dignitaries upon the spot,
and found to contain the following extraordinary,
and indeed very serious, communication:138