The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-02-01

us, not even excepting. The professoa,.
uttered EXPLANATIONS Of surprise and,
terror. We had large, i've pronged
grspnsl aboard, for catching iptQ trees,
brushes, fences ana hedges, when near
the earth, and NJ we're afraid the
lightning would bs attFsetsa by this.
II was terrible to think of' th
qusnces which would follOwh little
damage to our frail vessel. Thousands
of feet below US, cur brsathless 1neng-
led bodies would be found by strangS
srs Again that awful lightning crink-
led over Us, lingering around, AID seem.
ing to set US all on fire, and again that
crashing peal succeeded. In the com
parative silence that followed we could
hear the Wild roaring Of the wind be-
low us but with us all was still. Five
times more did that crinkling Ere and
almost deafening roar make us think
our last moment was At hand, and then
we suddenly emerged into lighter re.
gion, and saw the stars above and the
clouds below US.
Alas. we had only escaped one dan
ger for another We were ascending,
and the valve was fast We had no
means by which to force ourselves
down ! Already the gas was pouring
out below, and we soon began to feel
tho unpleasant sepsatiopsIu our heads
We were going up, up, up, and would
soon be at point where the balloon
would BURST What was to be done p
Something quickly, or our voyage
woSld end in eternity. The professor
himself became alarmed. He pulled
and tuggSd at the cord till he felt it
was hopeless, and then stood for few
minutes with his hands pressed against
his temples. There was no crying or
complaining. We oil know our danger;
and in silence, except, perhaps, IN Oe-
cSsional moan, were preparing our
selves by repentance and prayers, for
our last great change.
Suddenly the professor started and
throw Off his outer garments with great
rapidity, and then threw on his boots
The next moment, without word to
us, and before we were aware Of his
purpose, he had swung himself clear o.
the car, and was boldly climbing NJ
the ropes to the netting above, will
nothing to keep him from the etornG
fall but the frail hold of his hands. W.
| comprehsnded his designs aud ah
, how prayerfully we watched him, il
the dim light, till he had gone boyonC
our sight and then how we claspsC
. each others hands, with tremulous ex
' pectation, and silently stared IN eacl
other wondering faces, and ferVsnily
0 prayed for his success. rr
Five minutes, that seemed like N
8 eternity then, and we heard the pecu
liar sound Of the escaping gas. Nobl
Q mani God bless him he had saved ul
o Another minute and, in the dim light
t We saw his form descending, and W
n prayed for him still, for We could no
d aid him. Down, down-slowly eau
: tiOusly-till at last his feet rested o.
: the car; and then, with q wild shout
we caught him in our arms, and ming
a led our tears Of gratitude with his.
i. We now struck current of air tbs
II carried us away from the storm, an
then We descended to the earth o
/, gently as = bird on tho wing, an
found ourselves within two miles Of
70 railway station and hundred frcl
Il London. The next morning we WEI
within the limits Of the mighty cit.
10 relating our adventures to our Anxiol
4 and wondering friends.