Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-10-11

rihe IN my hand. watching for stray travellers,
| never felt so excited as l do now. Then
their lives were in danger. now ID is my own
Very pleasant, though! the owner Of the
balloon. l have picked up some rAscally l.
Italian brigand.
Better to fght with the elements than Gus
tom-house offcersP continued his companion.
The balloon ascending at terrible rate. In
his turn, Mr.. Brown stood up. and laying his
hand on the strangers arm said
" For Heavens sake, don't stirl Our lives
are at stake. must allow some Of the gas to
escape, in order to repair your imprudence."
GLOW do you do that ?"
81 have only to draw this string, which is
connected with the valve"
"And if you had not that resource, what
would be the consequence p
ave should continue to ascend until every.
thing would burst form excessive diatation."
The man continued for few moments in deep
thought; then suddenly drawing out knife, he
cut the cord as high up as he could reach
Faster fasterl he reiterated. The stran-
ger was a giant compared with Mr., Brown,
who, perceiving that he could obtain nothing
by force, began to try conciliation.
Sir said he in q soothing tone, you
are a Christian, make no doubt. Well our
religion forbids homicide"
Faster shouted the giant: and soizing the
remaining sacks of sand. he scattered their con-
tents TO the clouds. Mr.. Brown fell on his
knees.
Ahl be exclaimed, ifyou have no regard for
your own life, at least have some pity on mine.
l am young rich, happy, l have mother
and sister, in their name l conjure you 10
stretch your hand up to the valve, aud save
us from a dreadful death by allowing some gas
to escape. d
Shaking his wild locks, the stranger drew
off his coat, and exclaiming. We are not as
cendingl flung it out;
Your turn now he continued, man with.
out the smallest &C remony he despoiled the
unfortunate Brown Of his paletot and threw il
lover.
The balloon pursued its wild career with.
out stop or stay.
u Ali hal said the stranger; while we're thus
climbing SO pleasantly toward the sky, I'll tell
you story--shall l? His unhappy compan-
ion did not stir. Already, from the extreme
rarity of the air, the blood was gushing from
his eyes and ears. Listen? Three years ago
I lived in Madrid, l was widower, with one
little daughter, a gentle, bright-eyed angel,
her long curling hair is waving this moment
before my eyes. One day l went out early,
and did not return until late, my child, my
beautiful Emma, was gone, banditti had come
and stolen her from me: But. my friend, have
you cannon hereY Mr.. Brown made me.
chemically sign in the negative. What a pity?
Il would have bOmbarded Spainl Ever since
l have searched for my child in every country
of Europe, but in vain. Now think she may
be in the north of Ireland. Have you a luc,
fer-match here? Mr.. Brown made no reply,
but shook his head, You have not? All il
l could get one, would set the balloon on fire,
; and then, when reduced to ashes, it would be
much lighter! When you first saw me this
morning | was examining the stupid faces oi
yon crowd, to see if the dark foreign one Of my
Emma's robber might be among them.
) II was evident to poor Mr.. Brown that biz
travelling companion was a confirmed lunatic
A sudden idea struck him.
| w nat is your udLn6t u0 dsh6us-
Gerald Annesley,
The very same.
2 What mean YOU?
L know where the W reich lives who stol
your child; we are now just above the spot
Draw the valve, Mr., Anpesley, and in a shor
time you will embrace your EmmaP
No, no, you are deceiving me. My Emm'
; 8 not on earth; she is in Heaven. Last nigh
she appeared to me in dream. and told me SO,
That's the reason 1 want to ascend higher and
higher. Come, my friend, help me; let us both
blow as hard as we can on the balloon. AS
we are beneath, our breath must help it to
rise. Blowl blowP Mr. Brown, moved by ter
ror, tried to obey.
1T does not stirl Come, mount on my
shoulders and push the balloonP And with
out consulting him any further, the giant caugh
e him up as if he had been feather, and held
him above his head, saying; 'NOw push the
! baloonI' The unlucky victim tried to obey,
but the blood blinded his eyes There was a
: horrible buzzing in his ears, and lights flashed
t before him. For moment, he thought o
, throwing himself over in order to end his tor
r ments.
'Ha' shouted tho madman, Ill does not go!
1T that moment the trembling hand of Mr.
. Brown touched accidentally the cord of th'
s safety valve. He made it play, and the col
: lapsing orb began to descend rapidly. Through
n the clouds it darted downward, and the eartl
reappeared;
a 'Ahp cried AnnOsley, instead Of pushing
, the balloon, as told you, you drew it down
e ward, Push upwardI push, l say!'
you see that am pushing as hard as
is can
mo, for here is the eartb?