Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-01-03

| "Ohu occiu, hio COuIdSc ldllcu, duu III
came not. Nowise discouraged, however
Mr.. Brown was just about to step into tn
aerial car, when tall strongly built MAJ
suddenly stepped forward, and politely sa
luting the ieronaut, said: May l ask yo,
a aquestion Sir?'
Certainly
SIS it true that YOU are going to Ameri
ca
No; merely to Belfast, wind and weather
permitting
Belfast, repeated the stranger in mu
sing manner-'the north of Ireland, Well
that is Just the direction toward which
want to go, and / hate land travelling
Will you, Sir, accept me as companion?
Mr.. Brown hesitated for a moment, but
as he really wished for some one to accom-
pany him he saw no serious objection to the
plan, and accordingly signifed his acqui-
escence, merely remarking to the stranger
that his costume seemed to light for the re-
gions of cold air which they would have to
traverse.
'Bah!' was the reply. l have passed
through more changes of climate than that,
and | am happily very robust
We'll, said Mr. Brown, looking at the
massive frame of the unknown, my car is
large enough. Come, in the name of Prov
idence! So they took their places, and
the word was given; Let go.'
The fifteen men whose hands were Sc
yerely pressed by the straining cords, de-
sired nothing better, and i'll a moment the
freed balloon began to sail majestically.-
The crowd shouted and clapped their
hands.
'Ah., cried Mr.. Brown, this is delight
full. Don't you think SOP Not receiving
any answer, he turned and looked at his
travelling companion. There he was, lying
almost flat on his face and hands, with his
head over the side of the car, his eyes were
fixed, his hair bristling.
'Are you afraid? asked Mr.. Brown.
No answer. The balloon ascended rapid
ly, and ere long arrived at the region of the
clouds. Turning once more to his immo-
vablc companion. Mr.. Brown shook him
slightly by the arm, and said: 'Are you
ill?' Still no reply but fixed and stolid
stare. They were now at a great elevation;
clouds lay beneath finite space around
them.
Suddenly the stranger stood upright, his
face pallid as that Of a corpse.
Faster! faster!' he exclaimed in a tone
of authority; and seizing in succession three
of the bags of sand which served as ballast,
he flung them out of the car, at the same
time laughing in a strange, wild manner.
Ha! he cried, that's the way to travel!-
We shall distance the swallow, we shall
tower above the eagle. When was in the
Abruzzi with my rifle in my hand, watch
ing for stray'travelcrs, l never felt so excited
as do now Then their lives were in dan
ger, now it is my own
Very pleasant thought the owner of the
balloon, have picked up some rascally
Italian brigand.
Better to fight with the elements than
with custom-hOuse officers?' continued his
companion. The Balloon assembled at a ter
rifle rate. In his turn Mr.. Brown stood up,
and laying his hand on the strangers arm
said:
are at stake. must allow some of the gas
to escape, III order to repair your impru
dcnce.
How do you do that?'
Il have only to draw this string, which
is connected with the valve
And if you had not that resource, what
would be the consequence
I'VE should continue to ascend until
everything would burst flom excessive di-
lation.'
The man continued for few moments
in deep thought; then suddenly drawing
out knife, he cut the cord as high as he
could reach
'Fasterl fastcrl' he reiterated. The stran-
ger was giant compared with Mr.. Brown,
who, perceiving that he could obtain moth
ing by force, began to try Cancellation.
'Sir said he in soothing tone, you are
Christian make no doubt. Well, our re-
ligion forbids homiside!'
'Faster!' shouted the giant; and seizing
the remaining sacks of sand, he scattered
their contents to the clouds. Mr.. Brown
fell on his knees.
'AhP he exclaimed, 'ifyou have no re-
gard for your own life, at least have some
pity on mine. l am young, rich, happy; /
have mother and sister; in their name /
conjure you to stretch your hand up to the
valve, and save us from dreadful death by
allowing some gas to escape
Shaking his wild locks, the stranger drew