Connecticut western news., 1886-08-18
VOL. XVI.

astride the semi-circle as he had said. Once there he rent the air with a shout of triumph, and drow his knife from his pocket.
 "What are you going to do9" asked NJ. Goddard, who feared that he might have the idea of ripping open the bal loon.
 "To make myself comfortable.
 Uttering these words, the madman cut slowly the cord of safety which M. God ard had attached to his body. With single puff of wind to shake tho balloon the miserable creature must fall into the abyss! M. Goddard shut his eyes in order not to see. The madman clasped his hands; he could not contain himself with delight. He spurred balloon with his heel, as if on horseback.
 "And now," yelled the madman, brand- ishing his knife, five are going to laugh. An! robbcr, you thought to make me descend! Very we'll! It is you who arc going to tumble down in moment"
 M. Goddard had not time to make a movement or put in single word. Be- fore he was able to divine the intenten- tions 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- clined horribly; it was only held by two cords. It would have been all over with Mir. Goddard if he had not grasped des- perately at those remaining. The knife of the madman approached the last cords.
 GA word-a slngle word," cried M. Goddard.
 "No-pardon," vociferated the mad. man.
 'T do not ask for pardon; on the con- trary."
 "What is it you wisha" inquired the madman.
 .'At this moment" continued the aero- naut hurriedly, "we are at a height of five thousand feet"
 "Stop," said the madman, ''that will be charming to tumble down from such a height"
 ct is too low" added NJ. Goddard.
 ''How so9" asked the madman stupe- fed.
 "Yes," said M. Goddard, "my expe- rience as an aeronaut has taught mo that death is not certain from fall from this elevation. Tumble for tumbte,sI much prefer to fall from such height and to be killed outright, rather than to be only lamed; have the charity to precipitate mo from height of nine thousand feet.
 "Ah, that will dol" said the madman, whom the mention of more horrible fall charmed amazingly. M. Goddard followed hero;cally his purpose, and threw over an enormous quantity of ballast. The balloon made a powerful bound, and mounted five hundred feet in a few mo- ments. Only-and while the madman surveyed this operation with menacing air-the aeronaut conceived another plan.
 The quick eye of M. Goddard had re- marked that among the cords spared by the madman, figured the one leading to the valve.
 His plan is taken. He 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 madman be- comes asphyxiated by the vapors of the gas which surround him. The madman being sufficiently stupe. fled for his purpose, M. Goddard allowed the balloon slowly to descend to the earth. | The drama was finished Arrived on terra firma NJ. Goddard, bear. ing no hatred to the author of his peril ous voyage, hastened to restore him tc animation and had him conveyed, hands and feet bound, to the nearest police sta. tion.-Tm-B Bits.