, 1859-10-14

AAANS ts-1S " tHc Udoc VI tItlItLb,
and Mr.. Staines was just about to get in himself
and give the signal to cut loose, when who shculd
we see, forcing his way through the crowd, but
Griffiths.
OF course, there was another cheer at this, and
delay Of eight or ten minutes more while he was
dressing. Al last he came, and It was lust q
quarter to seven O'Clock He looked very sullen
when he found he was to be the undermost; but
there was no time to change anything now, even
Il had been willing so his left wrist and my
right were bound together by leathem strap, the
signal was given, the band struck up, the crowd
apphuded like mad, and the balloon rose straight
and steady above the heads Of the people.
Down sank the trees and the fountains, and the
pavement Of upturned faces Down sank thereof
Of the theatre, and fainter grew the sound Of the
hnrraing and the music. The sensation was 50
strange, that for the first moment was forced to
close my eyes, and felt as if must iall, and be
dashed to pieces. But that soon passed away,
and by the time we bad risen to about three
hundred feet was as comfortable as II had
been born and bred in the air, with my head down.
ward. ia aI.9 \ no o.
Presently we began our performances GriE
fths was as cool as possible-I never saw him
cooer-aDd we went through every conceivable
attitudes now swinging by our hands, now BY
our feet, now throwing summersaults, one over
the other. And during the whole Of the time the
streets and squares seemed to sink away to the
right and the noise from the living world died on
the air; and as turned and swung, changing my
position with every minute, caught strange
fitting glimpses Of the sunset, and the city, the
sky and the river, the gentlemen leaning over the
car, and the tinypassenges swarming down below,
like ants on an ant-hill.
Then the gentlemen grew tired Of leaning over,
a.
over their hamper. Then the SuFry hills drew
nearer, and the city sank away to the right further
and further. Then there were nothing but green
fields, with lines Of railway crossing them here
and there; and presently Il grew quite damp and
misty, and we ceased TO see anything, except
through breaks and openings IN the clouds
Come, John" says |. " our share Of this busl-
ness is done. Don't you think we might as well
be getting in the CARP -
He was hanging below just then, holding on
by my two hands, and had been hanging 50 quiet
for some minutes He did not seem to hear me |;
and no wonder, for the clouds were gathering
about US so thickly, that even the voices Of the
gentlemen up above grew muiled, and l could
hardly see for q yard before me in any direction.
80 called to him again, and repeated the qae-
ton. Tei'
He made no answer, but shifted bis grasp from
W lily WEudlp ullQ uU u lullMI
Of my arm, 80 nising himself by degrees, till our
and felt his hot breath on my cheek.
"William Waldur," said be, hoafsely wasn't
tomorrow to have been your weddingday q rs
Something in the tone Of his voice, IN the ques-
ton, in the dusk and dreadful solitude, struck me
with horror. tried to shake Of his hands, but
be held too fast for that. fu y'14e 5aoNs gt4ol
"Well, what Il Il was 2" said !, aftg q NO
ment You needn't grip so hard. Catch hold
Of the pole, viii you and let go Of my arms"
He gave short, hard laugh, but never stirred
al suppose we're about two thousand feet
high" says he, and Il seemed 10 me that he bad
something between his teeth. I" II either OF us
was to fall, he'd be dead man before he touched
the ground"
Iwould have given the world at that moment
to be able to zee his face /; but what with my own
head being downward, and al his weight hanging
to my arms. ] he'd no more power than an infant
John r exclaimed, what do you mean
Catch hold Of the pole, and let me do tho same.
Ny heads on FIRE u t'2 laF ifF's
rDO you sec this Z" said he, catching my arms
q couple Of inches higher up, and looking into my
face. :" Do you see thisl" s,... .i,.a.s-
II was large, open clasp knife, and he was hold
ing II with his teeth. His breath seemed 70 hiss
Over the cold blade ts g.isari. tl.
81 bought IL this evening--I had Il In my belt
Il waited till the clouds came round, and there
was no soul see. Presently shall cut you away
from the balloon. / took an oath that you should
never have her, and I mean to keep itp
A dimness came over my eyes, and everything
grew red. l ihlt that In another minute should
Be insensible He thought was 50 already, and,
letting my arm free. made spring ct the pole
overhead. 80
That spring saved me. Our wrists were bound
together, and as he rose he drew me along with
him; for was so Iaint and giddy that could
make no effort for myself saw him hold BY the
pole with his leit hand; I saw him take the knife
in the right felt the cold steel pass between bis
wrist and mine; and then-
And then the horror Of the moment gave me
back my strength, and ] elung To the framework
just as the thing gave way. ~ ~
We were separated now, and was still secured
to the trapeze by one ankle. He had only his arm
to trust to-and the knife.
Oh, the deadly strife that iollOWedi Il sickens
me to think Of 4. His only hope now lay in the
cursed weapon; and 80, elinging TO the woodwork
with one hand he strove 10 stab me with the other
It was life OF death now, and grew Desperate
To feel his muFlerOus clutch upon my throat, and.
In the silence Of that hideOus Struggle TO hear the
report Of champagne cork, followed BY peal Of
careltaS mugntef, over neau. Ohp NaS WOrse han
death, hundred times Overl
cannot tell how long We clung thus each with
hand upon the others throat Il may have been
only few seconds, but II seemed like hours to me-
The question was simply, which should be stran-
gled first
Presently bis gripe relAxed. his lips became
dead white, and ashnddeF ran through every fibre
Of his body. He had turned giddyl
Then cry burst from him--A cry like nothing
human. He made false clutch at the trapee,
and rceled over. Icaught him jnst in time By the
belt round his waist.
"Its all over with me-" he groaned between his
set teeth. Its all--Over with me! Take your
revenge" Then his head fell heavily back, and
he hung dead weight on my arm.
did take my revenge; but Il was hard work,
and was already half exhausted. How con-