The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-07-10

cars and bell. but now it is dreadful
still, " said Walter, beginning to cry.
Don't cry, Walter" said Paul
"That won't do any good"
But suppose We never come dowr
sgain?" sobbed Walter. 1--WE may b,
miles and miles away from home aMt
never find our way back"
II don't care, so that it is earth again,
replied Paul. "There must be som,
way of going down besides being pulled
back by rope and windlass. Wha
was that Mr.. LIE Clerc said about let
ting out the gas?"
Something about valve and cor d
but did not pay much attention." re-
piled Walter.
"Iremember now, cried Paul. 9TH,
valve was on top, but the cord tha
opened it hung in the car somewhere.
"There it is, "said Walter, lookin,
up. "But you can't reach it,"
Paul sprang to his feet. and saw tina
the cord had in some way become en-
tangled in the net work which covered
the balloon. TWAS not moro than sever
feet above their heads, but it was en-
tirely out of their reach. So Paul sat
down again, and looked ut Walter.
ut is no use to try." said he, with Q
white face.
After while they rose above the
cloud, and saw it hanging below them
while over their heads the sky shone oui
q dark and lovely blue.
How cold it isl" said Walter, shiver.
ing.
This made Paul think of something
he had once read of two men who had
taken q journey i'll balloon, and one
OF them had become illsensible from
cold when at great distance from the
earth.
1--WE must get that valve cord!" he
said to himself; then lie began to look
around him and think. Then he sud-
denly cried, "Walter! Walter! I know q
way to reach it; will sling it,"
"But you haven't any twine long
enough" said Walter, hopelessly.
II have the piece l saved from my
kite this morning."
Paul then produced several yards OF
twinc, wound on stick, and tied his
knife securely to ono end of it; and
presently the two boys almost forgot
their peril in the excitement of trying
to throw this sling into the loop made
by the entangled rope. Meanwhile the
balloon drifted higher and higher, and
farther and farther westward.
After great many failures, Paul
succeeded in reaching the cord. Then
they pulled it within their hands.
|
clapping his hands.
Paul pulled the cord gently, for he
thought perhaps there might he dan
ger of letting too much gas out ut once.
For some moments the boys could not
tell what effect this had; but presently
the air around them became much
warmer, and they we're again envelopel
In . thiek nlist. q. 7,'it''is' ~
:, Walter vas in despair. He slipped
off Of tho bench, and seating himself
on the floor of tho car, covered bis faos
with his hands. II.
Presently Paul, who had been earn
estly looking over the side, said, oval
ter, 1 think We must have dropped a
great distance"
"Why?" asked Walter, trying hard
to keep his voice from trembling.
"Becnuse We are in the clouds again."
replied Paul.
"Are we?" said Walter, raising his
head. As ho looked up lie caught
sight Of something under the seat.
Here is a queer kind of anchor" cried
he, pulling ata rope attached to o great
hook with number of prongs.
can anchor!" exclaimed Paul, with
some surprise. "What is that for, 1
wonder?"
maybe ii we let it over tho side tho
balloon will go down faster"
II don't think So" replied Paul,
glancing down again. Then he cried
out, ooh, Walter, we are below the
clouds now. l can see river with
lights on it just below u.s."
"Then don't let out any moro gas,
Paul. We shall be drowned il YOU
do"
Paul let 60 of the valve cord, and the
boats seemed to fly away beneath them.
and they passed tile river in safety.
The balloon had sunk so low that
now they could distinctly see tho roofs
of houses; but 1t had grown So dark
that no one observed the balloon.
The lights and houses grew more and
more scarce as they passed over dark
fields and woods. They could see
branches of the trees bend, and hear the
wind bowling among them, and the two
boys knew that they were being driven
along through the air at a rapid rate,
1t We cannot stop tho balloon" said
Walter. i've shall be torn to pieces by
the branches Of those trees when wa
get little lower" -
Just then the little car they wore in
gave lurch wllicl, almost threw them
out. The boys seized the nearest Nope
and looked down. They we;e directly
above thick forest, end one great pine,
taller than the athers, had almost over.
turned them.
Paul and Walter stretched out thar
hands to grasp the branches hut in an
instant they were wrenched away, and
the balloon rushed on again."
Perhaps that hook will help us now u
said Paul. suddenly remembering the
anchor. II will haul on the valve cord
and whep We come to thick trees. Won
let the hook right down among the
branches. -.
Paul peepea down into the darkness,
while Walter held the anchor suspend.
ed over the side Of the car.
HNow!" cried Paul, and the anchor
went crashing down among the crooked
branches of an immense sycamore.
Then the balloon tapped backward and
forward like great wounded bird, and
presently the boy. saw and felt the
leaves around them, and then tho sar
turnal completely over, Both Paul
and Walter were thrown out but for
tunately they managed to grasp the
branches of tho tree. and in a few mo-
ments found themselves seated side by
side many feet above tho gyomnd. The
balloon arose again. and dragging the
rope and Aook after it, disappeared
from their sight.
"Oh, lam SO glad" exclaimed Wal
ter. Il never want to see o balloon
again."
y think" replied Paul, "if We had
not been so frightened. tho voyage would
have been perfectly glorious"
The bows sat IN the trea all NIGHT