Iron County register., 1882-08-17

and truly the bits OF paper flung ont
ioated idly round the balloon. 1--WE
must get out of this.n 4
He cast out the ballast, BAG after bag.
and higher still they scared. Neyerthe-
less, whenever they flung out the bits of
paper, they foated here and there. some
dropping back into the Car.
s There goes our last BAG of ballast. ),
said the Captain, .sand NAV luck 90
with it. We are lost men unless it takes
us into another current. which. LET us
hope, won't be coming from the east
and carry US out into tbs Atlantic
Up again they mounted. how manv
feet Josiah didn't know. bnt he was
sensible of sudden iciness in the at
mosphere, a tingiing of the blood at his
hnger ends and Strong disposition to
bleed at the nose. The Captain threw
out some more bits Of paper. Still they
clrcied round and round, dropping into
the car or falling to the distant earth
now utterly out Of sight. They had
passed through the cloud, aud had
ABOVE them chilly sun and an intense
~ blue sky. Below them were the
clouds, on one of which was clearly
caught the shadow of the balloon. .Jo-
siah, when he moved his head, could
see an answering motion on the cloud,
and recognized the reflection of the
captains figure, sitting stern and erect,
with MS teeth set, and look of angry
discrimination on his brow ~ .
This. frightened Josiah a great deal
more than the Captains words. He
felt that they, were lost in space, and
that the end must speedily come. This
terrible look on the Captains face made
him sick at heart.
fMr. Smith, said the Captain,
speaking scarcely above whisper, but
his voice sounded as if he were shouting
from the housetops, ssyou told me you
were not married man. 1t
6 Yes," said Josiah, ssI have never
been married." "a cafss--. .f
''That is so, or 1 should not have
asked you to come with me. And you
have not many relations?'' t9G3
"No," said Josiah, s'there are not
many that would miss me.n 81 ,,,f...zs
."Very WELL" said the Captain, ssI
have; but your life is as valuable as
mine, and I would hold you at no dis
advantage. The fact is, we are be-
calmed, and there is no prospect of any
wind reaching us here till night, when
we shan't know which way we are
drifting, and may as we'll give up all
hope. There is wind overhead, know,
and it is going straight for France. If
we could get up another thousand feet
or so, we should catch the current and
be over land in ten minutes. But all
the ballast is gone, and there is only
one thing to be DONE"
ssyVhat,s that 21, skod Tos;oh fo;ntlv
s'One of us must go overheard" }" said
the Captain. .
Josiah felt his heart sink within him.
81 am not sure that it would be much
use my going over" the Captain con-
discussing the matter as quietly
as if he were arranging what they
laundering weight, you'd shoot up till
you bumped your head against Jupiter;
and besides, you would not know what
to do with the balloon it l was gone.
Still, I think we should have equal
chances. Now, I'll give you the first
chance. You get hold of me and try
to push me over. Ii I go, you will find
the balloon shoot up; but don't be
frightened; you'll be all right in bit,
and can let out few feet of gas. If
you can't get me over-well, must try
to get you over. Hold on a bit till I
light cigar. -%%7~
In the calm still air the Captain
struck light, bending low in the car
to avoid contact of flame and gas, bit
the end of cigar, and lit it. Josiah,
shaking with terror, could see in the
shadow on the cloud the smoke curling
up from the cigar and lazily spreading
itself out.
"Now, old chappie," said the Cap
tain, ''I'm ready. Heaye hard, and
over 60"
What was the use of disputing with
a man like this? Josiah never had been
inclined to fight with men of strong
will. He was certain he could not move
the Captain, bus he was able to try, and
try he did. He got one foot over the
car, the Captain encouraging him and
cheerfully smoking.
"Very well done, old man. A few
more tugs and over we go. iii just have
time to finish my cigar before I get to
the bottom.''
e Josiah tugged and tugged till he felt
The warm blood rushing through his
veins and his breath came short. But
though he might move one of the Cap
tain's colossal legs, which seemed to his
fancy to be the size of the
he could do no more. The
Captain sat passive, encouraging him
BY every kindly phrase he could think
If. But it was of no use, and after ten
violent struggling Josiah threw
himself back in the car.
"Very sorry, old man." said the Cap
ain, with tone of unmistakable sim
certify. 'sThought once you'd have
lone it; but I've got little out of train
ng lately, and run up half stun. Now |
[ must see what can do with you"
First of all he tore off some slips of
paper and threw them out. Josiah !
ooked at them with hungry eyes. Round |
md round they spun, falling back into
he car or dropping to the world beyond |
he clouds. There was no hope Of move
nent for the balloon.
=" Well, Mr.. Smith, it's your turn now.
must see what can do. It's not nice |
or either of us, but it would be no nicer |
20 stay here and be starved to death or
blown out to sea. You won't feel any
hing after the first rush. Good-by. I /
!, m sorry there will be no OpDortunity |