Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-08-11

astrido tho semi circle as he had said.
| Once thoro he rent tho DIR with shout
OF triumph, and drow his kniio from his
pocket,
"What are you going to doa" asked
NJ. GODDARD, who feared that he might
have tho idea of ripping open tho bal
loon.
"To make myself comfortable"
Uttcring these words, the mailman cut
slowly the cord of safety which M. God
ard had attached to his body. With n
! single puff of wind to shake the balloon
the miserable creature must fall into
the abyss! NJ. GODDARD shut his eyes in
order not to see. The mailman claspcd
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
ishing his knife, two are going to laugh.
All! robbrr, you thought to make me
descend! Very WE'LL 1t is you who are
going to tumble down in a moment"
NJ. GODDARD had not time to make a
movement or put in single word. Be-
fore he was able to divine the intcntcn-
tions of the madman, the latter, still
astridc of the scm-circlc, had cut-h0r-
ror-four of the cords which suspended
the car to the balloon! Tho car in
clmcd horribly; it was only held by two
cords. 1t would have been all over with
Mr.. GODDARD if he had not graspcd dcs-
pcratcly at those remaining. The knife
of the madman approached the last
cords.
"a word-a single word" cried M.
GODDARD.
"No-pordon," vocifcratcd the mad
man.
~ do not ask for pardon; on the COIL
trary,"
"What is 1t you wsh'" inquired the
mailman.
eat this moment" continued the aero
naut hurricdly, 1--WE are at n height of
five thousand feet"
"Stop," said the madman, "that will
be charming to tumble down from such
a height"
at is too low" added NJ. GODDARD.
GLOW so2" asked the mailman stupc-
fed.
eyes" said NJ. GODDARD, "my cxpc.
ricncc as an acronaut has taught me that
death is not certain from u fall from this
elevation. Tumble for tumble, l much
prefer to fall from such height and to
be killed outright, rather than to be only
lamed; have the charity to precipitate
nc from a height Of nine thousand
feet"
"Ah, that will do" said the mailman,
whom the mention of more horrible fall
charmed amazingly. M. GODDARD followed
hcrocally his purpose, and threw over
an enormous quantity of ballast. The
balloon made a powerful bound, and
mounted five hundred feet in few mo-
ments. Only-and while the mailman
surveyed this operation with a mcnacing
air-thc acronaut conceived another
plan.
The quick eye OF NJ. GODDARD had re-
marked that among the cords spared by
the madman, figured the ono leading to
the valve.
His plan is taken. lie draws his cord,
it opens the valve placed in the upper
part of the balloon for the purpose of
allowing any excess of the hydrogen gas
to escape, and the result which he hopes
for is not long in making itself appar-
cnt. Little by little the mailman be-
comes asphyxiatcd by the vapors of the
gas which surround him.
The madman being sufficiently stupc-
fed for his purpose, NJ. GODDARD allowed
the balloon slowly todcsccnd to the earth.
The drama was finished.
Arrived on terra iirma NJ. GODDARD, bear
ing no hatred to the author of his peril
Gus voyage, hastcncd to restore him to
animation and had him conveyed, hands
and feet bound, to the nearest police sta
tion. lid Bits,