Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-01-03
The balloon pursud. its wild career


beautiful Emma, was gohe; banditti had
come and stolen her away from me. But
my friend have you a cannon here?' Mr..
Brown made mechanically sigu in the
negative. What a pity!-I would have
bombarded Spain! 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
lucifer-match here?' Mr.. Brown made
no reply but shook his head. You have
not? All! if l could get one, l would set
the balloon on fire: and then, when reduced
to ashes, it would be much lighter? When
you first saw me this morning l was exam
ming the stupid faces of yon crowd, to
see if the dark foreign one of my Emma's
robber might be among them
1t was evident to poor Mr.. Brown that
his travelling companion was confirmed
lunatic. A sudden idea struck him.
'What is your name?'
Gerald Amnesty
The very same!'
What mean you?'
Il know where the wretch lives who
stole your child; We are now just above the
spot. Draw the valve, Mr. Amnesty, and
in short time you will embrace your En-
map
NO, no, you are deceiving me. My En-
ma is not on earth: she is in Heaven. Last
night she appeared to me in a dream, and
told me SO. That's the reason l want to
ascend 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. Blow! blow!'
Mr.. Brown moved and tried to obey.
1T does not stir? Come, mount on my
shoulders and push the balloon!'
And without consulting him any further
the giant caught him up as if he had been
feather, and held him above his head say
ing:
Now push the balloonp
The unlucky victim tried to obey, but
the blood blinded his eyes. There
was horrible buzzing in his ears, and
lights flashed before him, for a moment
he thought of throwing himself over in or
der to end his lorments.
Hal shouted the madman, 'it does not
go At that moment the trembling hand
of Mr.. Brown touched accidently the cord
Of the safety valve. He made it play,
and the collapsing orb began to descend
rapidly. Through the clouds it darted
downward, and the earth reappeared.
.Ahp cried Amnesty, instead of push
ing the balloon, as l told you, you drew it
downw ard. Push | say!'
you see am pushing as hard as lean.
NO; for here is the earth!'
1T is only that the clouds are rising tow
ard the upper regions
well, let us do the same. Let us
throw out all our ballast
we have nomore'
Gerald Amnesty laid Mr.. Brown gently
in the bottom Of the car.
we have no more, ballast you say?' he
asked looking fixedly at him.
No more.
How much do you weigh?' This
question fell on poor Brown like stunning
blow. How much do You weigh?' repeat
ed his companion in louder tone.
'Ah, very little; nothing that could make
the slightest difference mere trihe.'
"a mere trihe! Well, even that will
make some difference Then imminence
of the peril gave our gronaut presence of
mind.
MY FRIEND said he, your child is not
dead | saw her last week near Belfast
She is living with a family who love her
and treat her as their own. In a very
short time, if you will allow us to descend,
YOU Will meet her. The mailman looked
at him with wild doubling gaze,
Yes continued orown eagerly, anx-
ious to confirm the impression he had made
you will sec her, your darling Emma, run
ming to meet you with outstretched arms,
and her fair golden curls waving in the
wind
+. You lie! Emma's hair was as black as
jetl Man! you never saw her. How
much do you weigh?'
'Ah! mere nothing; only a few pounds?
Gerald Amnesty seized Mr.. Brown with
both hands and held him suspended over
the side Of tho car In another moment he
would have dropped him into the abyss of
space.
'Anneslyr exclaimed the poor man. you
want to mount higher?
Yes! ycs!'