The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1859-06-02

quired by him in so many of his daring
expeditions, made all the reflections il
the short space of a seco d.
4 "Ah! ali you are mocking me, my
fine fellow continued the madman, with
out looSening his grip. All YOU think
to rob me Of 1000 francs a well as my
emotion. Very well, be quiet. It's my
turn to .augh It's you now who is going
to cut "a caper."
The naUm was possessed of prodi-
giOuS muscular force. nj. GODDARD did
not even attempt to defend himself
What doyou wish from me 7" asked he,
with calm tone and submissivesair.
"Simply to amusr myself in seeing you
turn a sumnlersault," answered the man,
with ferocious smile. /" But first, the
mailman APP cared TO bethink hinsrlf,) |
nave my ideas. ] wish t0rsee il | can
not find some emotion up there. must
put myself aSlrde on the semicircle. -
Tue mailman indicated with his finger
the upper part of the balloon. just in
50, ahlng, he commenced to climb along
The cords which held the car alta he'd to
the halIonn. NJ. GODDARD, who had not be
fore trembled t r himself, was forced to
do SO now for the madman.
But, miserable man, ynu are going
to Kill yourself; you will be seized with
vertigo"
No remarks" hissed the mailman,
SciZlng him again by the collar, "or
wi at once pitch you into the abyss.
"At least" observed NJ. GODDARD, +" al
low ne to pu this cord around your body,
81 tl;t you may remain attached to The
Balloon" BE- it so. said The mailman,
WhQ seemed TO comprehend The uliii. of
the pr,raullon. This done, furnished
wis his cord OF safety, the madnan coln-
IN nt6 To clint the rope with the agli-
ly al "A squirrel He reached the balloon
and PLACED hinisef aslride the stmi-cr
Gle, as he said. Once there, he rent 'h
air with shout of triumph, and drew his
knit, from his pocket.
What are you going to do J asked M.
Goddard, who feared that he night have
the idea Of ripping the balloon.
To make myself comfortable forth
with
Uttering these words, the mailman cul
slowly the cord safety which NJ Godard
had attached to his body. Will single
puff ot wind to shake the balloon. the mis-
erabIe creature must roll over into the
abyss NJ Goddard Shnt his eyes in ~.
der not ta see su The madnaH
clasps i> hand; he cannot contain him
sell Wilh leiiAit. He slutS tte iaIo' u
with his |. .ci. ds If ur horSehaok, to guide
iIs-hi- hi.
And now, yelled fcrh hemadnan.
hrandiSlin4 his hnite, We are going e,
laugh. AI,, rohher ,ou Itina Ia make
me descend. Very we'll. Il is You vii
are going to tumble down in moment,
and quicker than that"
NJ. Goddard had MT time to make a
movement or put in a single word. BE
fare he was able to divine the in
frrnal intention If the mailman, the later,
stll aSiride Of the sen,i,circle, had cut
oh horror four of the clrClages which
suspended the ear 10 the balloon The
ca, incIines horribly it holds only by
two-it was by one ,corl so slight do.
they appear II would have been all
over with NJ, Goddard if he had not grasp
ed desperately at the two remaining
The knife of the mailman approaches the
last cords--yet a moment and all will be
over
Il do not ask fer pardon; ON the con
trary."
"What is it you wish then 7 said the
madman astonished.
"At this nlement now," continued the
mronaut hurricdly, Eve are al a height
of 5000 feet"
"Slop,' said the madman. athat will
be charming to tumble down from such
a hight 7"
"Yes," said r.Godard, "my expert
ence as a. arunaut has taught me that
death il not certain to enSne from a fall
from that elevation. Tumble. for tumble,
| much prefer to fall from such hight
as to be killed outwright, rather than be-
ing only amed have the charity to pre-
cipitate me from hight Of 5000 unly."
"Ah, that will do,' said the madman,
which the mention Of a more dreadful fall
charmed amazingly.
Mons. GODDARD follows heroicals bis
purpose, and throws over an enormous
quantity Of ballast. The balloon makes
a powerful bound, and mounts FIVE hun
drpd feet in few secnnds. Only. and
while the mailman surveys this operation
with mrnacing air--the aronaut thinks
to accomplish another quite contrary
| The quick eye Of NJ. GODDARD had remark
| ed that among the cords spared by the
madman, figures the one leading the