Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-11-04

IAS W iHu ust HtT W me III WOutu Dut SO
| FAR oblige him. / have never been quite
able satisfactorily to explain to myself
how II was that l was startled or cajoled
into asserting. Perhaps the novelty of
the notion acting on . somewhat advent
urous fancy made me yield more readily
TO the old mans entreaty than would 9TH
erwise have been the case. said Yes"
and was held TO my word
Hist! walls have ears and certainly
arbors have" whispered the landlord of
the inn as he led me cautiously round by
the back door into the partially-illumi-
mated space without. Wrap your over.
coat well about you and hide your face
with this red handkerchief We mustn't
let the people see as yet it's raw hand
that's TO go aloft. Iron de lair! once up,
we can laugh it Off" This was all very
well for the innkeeper, whose only wish
was TO keep the rabblc in good humor
and avoid riot, which might lead to the
pillage Of his cellar and the demolition of
his furniture, but / began inwardly to
question the wisdom of my own choice.
However, il was too late 10 withdraw.
One glance at the sea of keen, olive CON-
plexioned faces, the flashing eyes and
impassioned gestures of the spectators was
enough To show the risk that would at
tend the giving of wiliful offense |
could have imagined much such a throng
gathered around the blood stained arena
of old Rome. They were gay enough,
laughing blithely, but it would not have
required much to arouse the volcanic
fires that slumbered beneath that joyous
aspect.
There was the Defiance maiestically
poised above the ground like u vessel rid
ing at anchor. There was nothing for il
but 10 carry out, as best | might, the
madcap enterprise on which had en-
barked
Come, you had better get into the car
and be ready" said the landlord, still in
an undertone, as he passed me through
the Gordon of police that kept back the
foremost of the spectators. Don't talk,
but if anybody speaks To you wave flag
that does as well. NJ. de Villeneuve
writes me word he'll not arrive till the
last moment, when we start the fireworks.
As soon as he's beside you up you go, re-
member"
l was now in the rocking, swaying car,
and, STOPPING down, | ascertained that the
bags of ballast, the coil of spare rope, the
flags and telescope were at my feet; then |
assured myself that the grapnel was pro-
vided with its tough cord, and the whizz
of rocket and descending shower of
colored spangles of fire gave warning
note OF preparation.
More rockets now scared aloft, amidst
the huzzas of the crowd, and then, spring
ing from the driving seat OF light, open
carriage drawn by gray horse, there APP
peared the figure of stout, well-dressed
man, who elbowed his way so quickly
uh ha at I haG
time to conjecture that this must be the
volunteer companion of my aerial voy-
age, N. Victor de Villeneuve, before he
scrambled into the car, and was at my
side.
"Allons, let go, mes braves!" he cried,
in sharp, imperious tone, 10 the men
who held the ropes. I" Bas les cordes! do
you hearg"
A voice raised in accents of command
seldom fails OF It's effect, however question
able may be the right of him who upliits
it, and the men addressed, in their aston
ishment, mechanically obeyed. The bal
loon rose little, nothing now restraining
its upward flight save the trigger-cord,
firmly moored TO post below, the spring
being in my grasp.
" Montons, camarade! Off We gol" ex-
claimed the passenger, with jovial laugh
that had scarcely the ring of honest mirth
in it.
Perhaps NJ. de Villeneuve, for all his
staggering department, was i'll at ease as
to the results of our voyage, and strove to
carry it off gayly; such were my thoughts
as the Catherine wheels began TO revolve
in cascades of whirling fire and the crowd
to cheer. IL was the moment for our start,
but hesitated to pull the trigger, for now
a strange hustle and confusion below at
tracted my attention.
A mounted gendarme, his saber and car
bine elanking, had ridden up at the full
gallop of his rocking horse, followed at
some distance by three others, who spurred
furiously forward. There were few hur-
ried questions, then smothered outcry,
a roar Of voices, and swaying backward
and forward of the excited populace.
/ looked down at the crowd Of upturned
faces.
Stopl stopl Au nom de loi English
man, stay!" cried out the brigadier of the
foot-police.
let go, fool" Numbered the man who
sat beside me in the car.
But it is the police that" ] began,
thinking that NJ. de Villeneuve had sud
denly taken leave of his senses.
"Come downl stop-haul the rope!"
was the shout from below; but as the
words reached my ear my companion bent
forward. Something flashed in his hand
"a dagger-knife-an the cord was cut,
and the balloon darted upward.
ain the name of the law-ahl you
won't? Tiensl" cried a gendarme, dis
his carbine, an example that was
by his comrades; but the balls
whistled idly by, while we rose and rose
until the inn and the gardens and the
shouting crowd and the suffering fire.
works had diminished to pigmy size,
and presently disappeared altogether, and
the balloon rode on, solitary, through the
fields of air.
"A nous deux, maintenant!" said NJ.
de Villeneuve, with q chuckle that was in
TO me. "A singular sa-
lutte our friends gave us, ell, when they
babe us bon voyagey'
The moon, half full, had now risen, and
I could see the face of my companion
the swarthy, keen face of a man forty
years of age, with short, dark hair, slight
ly grizzled, fiery.black eyes, and very
xglita utrnng aharn-naintpd teeth which |