The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-12-05

| Do l1SClIdiHu WAS Win tlC sGSlitt lildl
for eonside. able length of time, had rot
thought of oar strange passenger. DeLacy,
too, was so basy watching the world below,
that he had paid no attention to him. ..
Finally, saw s1all dark body shoot
past me on its way to the earth, which was
instantly followed by another, until some
seven or eight had gone, and began to
feel rapid rising of the balloon. DeLacy
noted it also, and we simultaneously looked
around. What sight met our gael
Our passenger stood on his feet bare
headed-his hat having beeh thrown over
board, and his coat, vest ard bOots off,
while his eyes seemed about bursting from
their sockets. Never shall | forget the
looks of that man. Froth, Shiny froth,
stood upon his lips, and demOniac leer
covered his countcnance. His lower Jaw
had fell and remained in that position as if
locked. A more horrid spectacle | never
witnessed. n09 -..H .r. ..
! He had thrown over the last sand bag,
and thus partially relieved, the balloon was
shooting heavenward with great velocity
The cold air rushed past us with dull
whizzing sound, and chilled our bodies most
uncomfortably. -. ......
One glance satisfied Us to thecharacter of
/ our friend. He was "A ravlng maniac! l
involuptarily glanced at De Lacy. His face
momentarily paled as be realized the truth.
| He edged closely to me, whispering.
What is to be done? He is a mad
| man.
Can we not secure him, / asked.
"No! mol he would throw himself over
| board, and that wou,i be the last of him
| But see, he has a revolver and knife!''
True enough NJ Canon had drawn d
knife from one pocket in his pants, aud a
six shooter from the other. He hugged
them TO his bosom, kissed them, and NUT
tered some untelligible gibherish, and then
| pointed them at us, with long chuckling
laugh.
tones, that made me start. Yes, up we'll
go to the demons of hell, or to the throne
of Himl Won't my angel sister be aston
ished when we dash into heaven in mons.
trous balloon, the famous Comet. Ha!
ha! ha! up to the golden gates of the Eter-
nal City, or to Beelzebub, my friend we're
coming; say now, boy - and he bent to-
wards us, while he assumed low. tone,
"shall we go to Beelzetub, or to heaven?
If We 20 to the latter place, we'll dig up
the stones of emerald and topaz, with
Which the streets are lined, and carry them
down to the cath; We II be richi rich men
yes that's the word, rich! rH
lie paused moment and resumed his
seat on the bottom of the car, with his head
bent upon his hands. s..s-yt ..j -. D.,
Now, B. said DeIIacy, addressing
me- we must secure him. [ haye some
strong cord in my pocket. II we leave him
alone, there is no knowing what will become
of u.s. Careful now, and We Il seize him. -
Come" .. .. t.a".t.a.. .,.... .....
Accordingly, we started cautiously for
the strange being. My friend held the cord
in his hand while the other was cautiously
stretched out toward the enemy. But
hardly had we made movement when NJ.
Canon sprang into an upright position, and
with glaring eyes, levclcd the revolver to-
wards us .......
Something warned us that if we made
any further attempts at present, it would
c. one lie at least an nei her knew who
| the victim might be. .t..s... ..
/ A deadffre burned in the maniac's7 once
handsome eyes, and well knew that he
would not hesitate to shoot one or both of
us, rather than be confined. He knew
what the strong cord was for. .......
I'VE can do nothing at present." re-
marked DeLacy, when he beheld the resu 1t
,fhis plan. "We shall heve to. .Tait for d
more convenient time ..e ..
| | cnly nodded an assent; my mind was
occupied by thought Of increasing peril
We were still shooting upward into the
regions of intense cold, and our forms were
were chilled through, every article of
clothing We had brought for the purpose
was now upon our bodies. And what was
more fearful to contemplate was the fact
that the rope which connected with the
''safiy valves" could not be reached with
out ncurrins great danger.
1 The maniac had it in his possession. 1t
was fastened securely to the balloon netting
at his back Thus we had to remain and
contemplate our approaching fate the best
that we might.
| After. Il balloon had risen to certain
hight it would explode, as well knew, and
shuddered to think of our probable end!
| Thoughts of my distant home, the kind,
loving friends that were even then awaiting
my return to their midst, together with all
the pleasant icmembrances of my early life,
rushed across my mind in that eventtnl
hour, and gave rise to emotions that would
be vain to describe. The more dwelt up
on such matters, the more distracted | be-
came, until finally said to Delacy;
Il cannot stand this awful suspense! We
must make another trial in this matter,
even though we incur great risk
II agree with you B. was the re-
ply, and was not surprised at the husky
tones in which it was uttered ''let lis L.: Ike
one more desperate effort for life. +"
Nj. Cannon had again quieted down to
his seat in the car, but the deadly revolver
and the ugly knife were still kept on guard.
Again his head dropped between his hands,
and he gave forth no signs of life. He did
not appear to feel the singing cold that en-
veloped us in SOFT of deathy grasp. He
seemed entirely oblivious of everything for
the time being. .-..,,
We rose to a creeping posture, and softly
ppproached him. This time fortune seemed
to favor us We succeeded in placing a
4 hand upon his shoulder, when, with a loud,
horrid yell and a convulsive start he sprang
upright. In doing so he dropped his re-
volyer, but retained his knife Quick as
thought | seized the precious weapon and
presented it full at his head. He eompre-
J hended his danger, and uttered another
shrill ciy, which, however, seemed full of
sorrowful pathos. He seemed to realize
that the odds were against him, and hastily
placing his knife in its former place, he
seized the strong netting and swung himself
: out of the car. and commenced climbing up
! on the outside Of the balcony An invol-
, untary cry OF horror escaped our lips sim
; ultaneously at this unexpected act of dar-
ing, and we watched his form in its ascent
: until it was hid from our view by the bulg-
, ing side of the balloon. We fully expected
! to see him lose his dangerous hold and fall
Y to the distant EARTH .4a, N... .a.. y
i Suddenly an idea seemed to strike Dc.
r Lacy--a fearful one it was too.
my God!" he exclaimed, as his face
e paled like the winter snow, ''he may cu
the balloon with his knife and then we are
: lost" ..a.
e Twas a sickeninn thoncht and for n fau