Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-08-20

NHNiO Ac lbut tue ATT With olOih
OF triumph, and drew his knife from his
pocket.
"What are you going to dol' asked
NJ. GODDARD, who feared that he might
have the idea of ripping open the bal
loon.
ITO make myself comfortable"
Uttcrihg these words, the mailman cut
slowly the cord Of safety which NJ. God
ard had attached to his body With a
single puff Of wind to shake the balloon
the miserable creature must fall into
the abyssl NJ. GODDARD shut his eyes in
order not to see. The madman clasped
his hands; he could not contain himself
with delight. lie spurred balloon with
his heel, as if on horseback.
"And now, yelled the mailman, brand
ishins his knife, eve are going to laugh.
Ali robber you thought to make me
descend! Very well 1t is you who are
going to tumble down in moment"
NJ. GODDARD had not time to make a
movement or put in a single word. Be
fore he was able to divine the lntenten-
tons of the madman, the latter, still
astride of the semi-circle, had cut-hor'
ror-four of the cords which suspended
the. car to the balloon! The car in
cllned horribly; it was only held by two
cords. 1t would have been all over with
Mr.. GODDARD if he had not grasped des-
rcratcly at those remaining. The knife
Of the madman approached the last
cords.
"a word-a single word" cried M
GODDARD.
"No-pardon," " vociferated the mad.
man.
81 do not ask for pardon; on the con
trary"
''What is it you wish9" inquired th'
mailman.
eat this moment" continued the aero
naut hurriedly, "we are at height .
FIVE thousand feet"
STOP" said the madman, that viii
be charming to tumble down from sucl
q heightr'
"It is too low," added NJ GODDARD.
'How soY' asked the mailman stupe
fed.
eyes" said NJ. GODDARD, "my expe
rience as an aeronaut has taught me tina
death is not certain from a fall from thi
elevation. Tumble for tumble, l muc
prefer to fall from such height and t
be killed outright, rather than to be on
80. have the charity to precipitat
siii nSfgns or nine thousane
feet. "
"Ah, that will do!n said the mailman
whom the mention of more horrible fal
charmed amazingly. NJ. GODDARD followe,
heroically his purpose, and threw owe
an enormous quantity of ballast. Th
balloon made a powerful bound, ant
mounted five hundred feet in few mo
ments. Only-and while the madmal
surveyed this operation with menacin!
air-the aeronaut conceived anothc
plan.
The quick eye of NJ. GODDARD had re
marked that among the cords spared b,
the mailman, figured the one leading t,
the valve.
His plan is taken. He draws his cord
itopens the valve placed in the uppc
part of the balloon for the purpose o
allowing any excess of the hydrogen ga
to escape, and the result which he hope.
for is not long in making itself appar
ent. Little by little the madman be
comes asphyxiated by the vapors of til,
gas which surround him.
The madman being sufficiently stupe
led for his purpose, NJ. GODDARD allowed
the balloon slowly todesccnd to the earth.
The drama was finished.
Arrived on terra frma NJ GODDARD, bear
ing no hatred to the author of his peril
GUS voyage, fastened to restore him tc
animation and had him conveyed, hands
and feet bound, to the nearest police sta
t ton. zd-Bus.