The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-07-23

when am / to have the sensa.
tions?"
The aeronaut, amazed, felt himself
lost. A sudden and terrible light
broke upon him. 10 looking at the
strangely -dilated eyes Of his assailant
he perceived ne must deal with y mad.
man.
Try in mid air to reason with a mad
man! Cry for help in the midst Of
the clouds! Ii he had but n weapon
for it was question Of life Or death.
But people visiting the clouds do not
furnish themselves with pistols. They
scarce dream Of deadly encounter
amongst the stars.
The earth below was 800 metres.
a horrible fall. The least move of
the maniac might upset the Cur.
NJ. Godard. with a sang fIoid which
he had acquired in wears Of audaci"us
enterprise. reflected thus in the space
If a second.
"Ah, You are ridiculing me. my
brave aeronau;," aud the lunafic tight
ened his grasp. "Ah. y"u take INV
thousand francs. Ii Is well you do /.
1t is now my turn To laugh. Its y"n
who must dance
The strange passenger was gi:ie'!
with prpdicious muscular power. VI.
Goddard did not even attempt to de-
fend himself.
"Whai do YOU want with me :! he
asked, IN a calm tone Of Voice. AMI
with submissive air.
IL am going To amuse myself bv
seeing YOU turn summersault, Mas
the reply. with a jeering laugh. "Bu'
first l have my plan. l wish 4" >ees
emotions up there. | must SIT as,ri,ls
the half circle
The maniac pointed to the higher
part Of the balloon. While speaking,
he WIS already ciimbin. The cords
which attach the car to the areo>iat.
NJ. G.aiard. who had iremhi,-d for
himself. could nn. help trembling for
the miserable man.
"Bl, yrr are grin. &" kill yourself.
You will be attacked nv vertigo"
"No remarks" came from the ropes,
and the i;,,l c.am.,-r-.i into the ring.
Il will hurl Won lat" space.
AT least. permit me Ia ps: c"r''
aroun:! your b"lv. - that You may
remain attached t. the bal!o"u.
"i> yea Ike. replied he ,o VI.
Goddard. seeming to understand 'h.
utility "f the precau''"n.
J. w:,- done. With the a:,i.iiy 1T Il
squirrel !ie climbed up the netting.
He reached nh. ip-iv ri Tie balln"n.
He placed him--ii uncnnr,rne,lly un
the half circle. u Il. hal declared h"
would H.. Once Their. he gave a veil
of triumph. and drew Il knife from his
pock'-'.
What i. vnu iricnd ~ siDu,ad che
arenn,mni. fearing that he WIS g"in.
"a eat The "a s-rynir.
First. to put mr>clf 1T mv e:,>e."
The words were hardly uttered
when quickly the mad man severed
the saferv-c'rti which VI. Emlari hal
attached IL him Should Il current a;
wind strike the balloon. IL nnfnrtu
nate man would h. l,.-t in mil air
Thu ialionni-t closed has eyes ~; Ia
witness the sight. The maniac
clapp-.i his hands. He MAS beside.
himself with joy. lie knocked hi
heel Together 10 >pnr on the Balloon
IN it, course.
And now" shouted ne hrandish
ing his KNIFE. let Us laugh. All |.
hrigauA. ypu wished me Ing ago to
Iesread. Nav j, l. YOU who is 10
caper. And Instantly"
NJ. G...lir.l had no time tn make n
movement ar say a word before he
had ,i-vil:cd tn. Internal intentions of
the luna,ic. The latter had cat three
or iour of the cords which supported
the c.'r. and il BOW bent horrihlv {"
one side. But two cables Of the
support remainea.-harslly Of more
account than 4 thread, IL would
all have been over with the brave
ballooni-r had he not chung desperate
ly 10 these.
The ma.lman's knife touched the
two cords. \ moment more and all
would he ended.
"One word ONLY" cried GODDARD.
"No; no mercy" vociferated the
'una'n.
al do not ask for mercv. On the
Then what do you WANT" aston
shed.
"Ar this moment We are at height
IF IL. 600 metres.
Indeed it will he jolly to tumble
from such an altitude.
1T j. vet too low" continued N.
Gndard.
"How 50 ?" asked the lunatic, stupi-
led.
Eyes. NV experience rs an aeronant
has taught me that. in faling from
such + height. people risk not being
killed. Fall for fall. I prefer death to
nanclinr. Do me the kindness to
precipitate me only at a height Of
900 metres"
That suits me-" said the mailman.
md he laughed ecstatically at the
thought Of the now fearful descent.
At once NJ. GODDARD held his prom
Sc heroicallv. He threw ,ut all the
ballast. Again the air-ship darts
and rises 200 metres in
/ few seconds.
Only. while the possessed man was
the operation with menac-
NC air. the aernnaut accomplished
mother Of qnite an opposite nature.
He had noticed among the ropes
pared was the valve-escape. His
,lans were formed in an instant. He
'ulied this cord. placed at the upper
ar, oe the balloon