Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-08-20
A Duel in a Balloon.

A Duel in a Balloon.
NJ. GODDARD had taken with him one
day, as his eampagaon du coyage, a
wealthy gentleman, who paid one thou
sand francs for the privilege of sharing
the pcrils of the expedition. SrThc
weather could not have been more propi-
tious, and the balloon shot up rapidly to
a considerable altitude.
"What effect does it produce upon
you?" asked NJ. GODDARD Of his com
panion.
"Nonc," said the latter, laconically.
'My compliments to you," returned
NJ GODDARD. "You are the first whom
have ever seen arrive at such an altitude
without betraying some emotion"
'Keep on mounting" said the travel
Ter, with supreme gravity
NJ GODDARD throw out some ballast, and
the balloon ascendcd some five hundred
feet higher.
"And now," asked NJ. GODDARD,
"does your heart beatl"
'eNot yet" replied his companion,
with an air which approached impa-
tience.
"Thc deuce" exclaimed NJ GODDARD.
"you have really, my dear sir, the most
perfect qualification foran acronaut"
The balloon still assembled; when one
thousand feet higher, NJ. GODDARD inter-
rogated third time his companion,
"And now2n
"Nothing, nothing; not the shadow of
a fear" answered the traveller, with a
tone positively discontented, and like a
man who had experienced profound de
ception.
s4Goodnaas me- . a'.sSse"rsi eve aere.sse4l
smiling. ssbut / must renoufice az NOPE
of making you afraid. The balloon IS
high enough. We are going to de-
scend."
'rTo descend?"
Certainly; there would be danger in
mounting higher
"That does not make the slightest
difference to me, do not wish to de-
scend"
"What!' asked NJ. GODDARD.
sI said | wished to ascend higher,
keep on mounting. l have given one
thousand francs in order to experience
some emotion; must do so, and will not
descend until l have had my moneys
worth. "
NJ. GODDARD began to laugh; he believed
that it was all joke.
"Once more, will you ascend" de
manded the traveller, seizing him by thu
throat and shaking him with violence.
NJ. GODDARD felt himself lost. A sudder
and dreadful revelation broke upon hi
mind, as he regarded the strangely dilat
ed eyes of his companion. He had to dc
with a mailman.
Had the unfortunate 9ronaut nau
defensive weapon he would have beeI
capable of defending himself, but it /
not usual for people to furnish thcmselye
with pistols for voyage in balloon
and certainly one would not dream o
meeting with warlike encounter in tn
stars. The earth was five thousand fee
belsw-most horrible depth-and tn
least movement of the now furious maj
might cause the car TO capsize. NJ
GODDARD, with the presence of mind ac
quired by him in so many Of his DARN
aerial expeditions, made all these retcc
tions in the space Of a second.
"Ah! ha! youare moclNing me, my lin
Fellow" continued the madman, withou
losing his grip. "Ah! you think to ro
me of one thousand francs, as well as Q
my emotion. Very well! Be quiet! 1t
my turn to laugh. It's you now who ar
going to cut caper."
The mailman was possessed Of prodl9
ious strength NJ GODDARD did not ever
make an attempt to defend himself.
"What do you wish from me'" aske'
he, in calm tone and submissive voice
"Simply amuse myself in seeing 20
turn a summersault," said the madman
with ferocious smile. 'But first" th
madman appeared to bethink himself
81 have my idea. wish to see if lean
find some emotion up there. | must pl
myself astride of the semi-circle." "
The madman indicated with his fingC
the upper part of the balloon. n
GodWd, who had not before tremble
for himself, was forced to tremble no
for the madman.
miserable mani" he cried. 'Yo
are going to kill yourself. You Will
seized with vertigo"
mo remarks!n hissed the madmaT
"or will at once pitch you into II
abyss"
"At least, +" observed NJ. GODDARD, "a
low me to put this cord around yo'
body, so that you may remain attache
to the balloon"
''Be it so, said the madman, who a
peared to comprehend the utility of tt
precaution.
Furnished with his cord of safety, Il
madman commenced to climb among q
ropes with the agility Of squirrel.
reached the balloon aud placed hins'