The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1885-07-09
]. A.EoYleEM TnE AIR.

..Paull Paul come down | The
Frenchman has brought his balloon to
Mr.: Brooks :big lot, and they are fill
ing if from q tank, in the shed. n
IT'S st 4 big balloon, Walter q asked
Paul, thruating his head out Of the win
dow and looking down at the boy be-
low: H. e
aA>monster,,D ), replied Walter. care
you coming q Ill = 81 ;.
Eyes, said Paul, disapp caring from
the window. ..5
In another moment The two friends
were hurrylng along the road together.
Presently they reached . a large grassy
field where q great number Of people
we're assemb Ito watch the filling of
the balloon. Placards were posted on
the neighboring fences ann uncing that
Monsieur lie Clero,: for tho sum of one
dollar apiece, would allow the public
to- ascend to; the height Of 600 feet
above.the earth. :5sg &
When Paul and Walter drew near
they saw thatthe was a cable attached
to- the car Of the balloon, which ran
over two pulleys, and then, around q
windlass which was securely fastened in
to the ground. A horse was standing
near, waiting to be attached to the wind
lass to draw the. balloon back to earth.
"That's MI. Ke Clerc, r said Paul,
pointing out . small man with bright,
black eyes and q HEAVY, gray moustache,
who was busily engaged in examining
the cable, pulleys. md the apparatus for
filing the. great silk bags with gas.
Il know him. ;He.is as nice as he
can be. Let usig and talk to him. = i "
Paul, followed by Walter, found his
way to the. Frenchman's side and said
Good afternoon, Mr.. lie Clerc. & 6 5;3.
us that you; my little friend ?" re-.
piled Monsieur lie Clerc with q pleasant
smile. q III ID itt;|-rs It'll
SIS the balloon almost ready ?" asked
T. A -,t - VI.
almost, ":said the Frenchman glanc-
ing upward. .,., 81. s Al 4 "a -
What kind Of gas is it filed with ~
asked Panl. a ~ y l 's1 3f;' Al:
Hydrogen gas, replied Monsieur
LIE C1erc. aDosy you see Chat pipe run
ming from theneck Of the balloon to
the shed Il The gas is forced from the
tank in the shed into the balloon until
it is nearly full, then the pipe is taken
off, and the mouth Of the balloon
fastened up. 81
aAnd when you want the gas to com Q
out, do you take off the fastening q
asked Walter. " y Z. ;',. e.
"Oh no, = replied Monsieur Lie Clerc.
tDo you see that cord hanging down in
I the COL? Well, thatscord runs through
the balloon and is attached to valve,
which is kept closed by spring. When
you pull the cord, it: opens the valve
and let's out the gas.''' 4. 9. rs
How delightfnltit must be to float
above the earth like a bird, "said Paul,
looking at the balloon longingly.
ssWould you like to make. the trial
"trip ?" asked Monsieur LIE Clerc.
Yes, indeed" replied Paul, IF Wal
tercould go with me-. But. %
"But what ?"'sald Monsieur lie Clerc.
TT is perfectly safe" $3.50. ;';sts
81 THAT is not it, replied Paul i. "But
I have no money with me.n7 49,. y
B Il Never mind that, said the French
man. It will only send you,up a short
distance, and use yon as a. kind of adj
vertisement. You can; tell all yonr &C.
quaintances how pleasant It was.2 This
time you shall 60 alone; when The ball
loon takes the full trip I shall be- obliged
to accompany every party myself"
.Thank You, said Pau. $"Walter,
will yongo ~ ;gi
Walter nodded his head and smiled.
After this the two boys waited i'm
patiently until tile preparations were
completed. .;;.5 I. s ;s: ,.i,7.. 4.
They climbed into the little cur, and
Monsieur LIE Clerc gave the order to
start. Breathless silence held the spec
tators for Q few seconds, and then, when
the monster arose, controlled only by
the cable, which unwound ,as, the bal
loon ascended, they gave q loud cheer.
The boys looked over the side of the
car, and saw the. people and objects
grow smaller and smaller; and they be-
4 gan. to feel Just a,ittle frightened. But
after q short time they grew used to the
new sensation, and began to point out to
each other distant and familiar objects,
( such as; the schoo ii use, ! the church,
and the small stream that wound in and
ont among the bushes and trees like o
glittering snake: As they were laugh
ing and talking merrily they; felt slight
jar, and o yell arose from the crowd be-
low. Looking down, the boys perceived
ell were hurrying about, waving their
hands as If in the widest excitement,
And they heard fthe Frenchman shouts
ing, but they could not make out what
he was saying. IS y ys5S
-. What can have happened? ?" said
Walter. Perhaps the horse has run
i away. 81; ss: 80, 8. ss'
Oh MOI replied Paul. r But
think Nh: lie Clerc has concluded to
let US go higher than he intendedIto at
4 first, and the people are pleased. Wave
your handkerch CHIEF, Wal tier. ~ S VI 3 Z,
SIS, Thatmust be il, said Walter. aJust
see how high we are nov. Il =.
gs 10 would think that 600 feet
would seen so high ~ said Paul, grow
ing puzzled. q ~ sss# 81
See Paul the people look like little
ants crawling around e exclaimed Wal
Paul looked downward steadily for a
lew moments; then he turned q white
face to hiscompanion, and said II s5S y lyS
Walter Rhati that floating out be-
low us III
aThs rope, 81 think REPLIED walter.
Paul. 81 -
DO You think the balloon has broken i, j.
8 away q asked Walter, his eyes growing
large with astonia hment and fright.