Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-07-10

Suddenly everything was shut from
their sight by a thick gray mist.
"What has happened now?" whis-
pered Walter, drawing closer to Paul.,
II think we must be in cloud" re-.
piled Paul, shudderlng.
"A moment ago I could hear railroad
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 down
again 2" sobbed Walter. ave may be
miles and miles away from home and
never find our way back" s.5sg ..4Tl.
II don't care, so that it is earth again, !"
replied Paul. "There must be some
way of going down besides being pulled
back by a rope and windlass. What
was that Mr.. LIE Clerc said about let
ting out the gas?"
Something about a valve and cor d,
but did not pay much attention." re-
piled Walter.
"Iremember now" cried Paul. "The
valve was on top, but the cord that
opened it hung in the car somewhere. I"
"There it is" said Walter, looking
up. "But you can't reach it,"
Paul sprang to his feet, and saw that
the cord had in some way become en-
tangled in the net work which covered
the balloon. It was not more than seven
feet above their heads, but it was en-
tirely out of their reach. So Paul sat
down again. and looked at Walter.
"It is no use to try" said he, with
| white face.
After while they rose above the
cloud, and saw it hanging below them,
while over their heads the sky shone out
dark and lovely blue.
"How cold it isl" said Walter, SILVER
ing.
This made Paul think of something
he had once read of two men who had
taken journey in a balloon, and one
of them had become insensible from
| cold when at a great distance from the
earth.
eve must get that valve cord!" he
said to himself; then he began to look
around him md think Then he sud
denly cried, "Walter! Walter! know a
way to reach it; will sling it."
"Bnt you haven't any Irvine long
enough!" said Walter, hopelessly.
II have the piece l saved from my
kite this morning."
Paul then produced several yards Of
Irvine, wound on stick, and tied his
knife securely to one 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.
"Now we are savedw cried Walter,
clapping his hands.
Paul pulled the cord gently, for he
thought perhaps there might he dan
ger of letting too much gas out at once.
| For some moments the boys could not
tell what effect this had; but presently
| the air around them became much
warmer, and they were again enveloped
in thick mist.
Walter was in despair. He slipped
off OF the bench, and seating himself
| on the floor of the car, covered his face
| with his hands.
Presently Paul, who had been earn
:estly looking over the side, said, oval
! ter, 7 think we must have dropped a
great distance"
"Why ?" asked Walter, trying hard
to keep his voice from trembling.
because we are in the clouds again"
replied Paul.
"Are we?" said Walter, raising his
head. As no looked up he caught
sight of something under the seat.
Here is queer kind of anchor" cried
he, pulling at rope attached to great
hook with a number of prongs.
"An anchor!" exclaimed Paul, with
some surprise. "NVhat is that for, 7
| wonder?"
"Maybe If we let it over the side the
balloon will 60 down faster"
II don't think So" replied Paul,
glancing down again. Then he cried
out, "Oh, Walter, we are below the
clouds now. I can see river with
lights on it just below us"
"Then don't let out any more gas,
Paul. We shall be drowned if you
do"
Paul let go Of the valve cord, and the
boats seemed to fly away beneath them,
and they passed the river in safety.
The balloon had sunk 50 low that
now they could distinctly see the roofs
of houses; but 1t had grown so dark
thatno 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 rapid rate.
Eff we cannot stop the balloon" said
Walter, tive shall be torn to pieces by
the branches of those trees when we
| get little lower"
| Just then the little car they were in
gave q lurch which almost threw them
| out. The boys seized the nearest rope
and looked down. They were directly
above thick forest, and one great pine,
taller than the Others, had almost oyer
turned them.
Paul and Walter stretched out their
hands to grasp the branches but in an
instant they were wrenched away, and
| the balloon rushed on again."