Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-09-22
Mocking laughter sounded in their

ears.
They were rapidly ascending; up,
up-higher, higher-into the very
bosom of the fieecy clouds!
They had not the remotest idea
how a balloon should be managed,
and were.too much stupefied, for some
time at least, to do anything but STARE
at ole another.
God help usw exclaimed the jew
eler. who was the first to recover self
possession.
Where are we going?" asked Vidal
Into eternity" solemnly replied
Hutchinson, who appeared 70 have
lost all hope.
Not yet, | hope. There must be
some way of managing this balloon.
There ought to be a valve; and I've
heard about throwing the ballast
out, >" answered Vidal.
The wind blew them along in a
southeasuerly direction, and they
went at a prodigious rate. Having
arrived at a certain altitude, they
did not seem to go any higher, but
drifted rapidly with the wind.
The balloon seemed TO have been
arranged for long voyage, though
it was not provisioned. The object
of the arch swindler iuto whose clever
trap the jeweler had fallen was evi-
IDENTIFY to destroy them, so that he
might get clear off with his booty.
I'VE shall be starved to death, "
said the jeweler.
Not to-day, nor yet tomorrow, "
said Vidal, knocking over a small
basket he had not hitherto noticed.
1t contained stone bottle Of water
and some bread and cheese.
Hutchinson threw himself at the
bottom of the car and gave way To
paroxysm of grief
Nothing more was said till morning.
The commissionaire, feeling tired, lay
down by the side of the jeweler, and
snatched few hours OF uneasy slum-
her.
When he woke, he found the wind
had changed, and the balloon was
beating about amidst a variety Of
conflicting currents, making no par
ticular headway.
They drifted at last in n direction
totally opposite to that in which they
had been going at first.
The ieweler did nothing but pray
and utter unavailing laments at in
tervals.
Vidal grew alarmed, but he did not
become a coward; his time was Who'll
ly occupied in studying the balloon.
The safety-valve, by means Of
which they could have descended at
will, was in sight, but out OF reach.
The string which should have given
those in the car control over it had
been purposely cut.
Four days and nights went by; the
balloon remained tossing about in
space. It's occupants had been
drenched in more than one storm.
Their condition was miserable in the
extreme.
Vidal had made several attempts to
reach the safety-valve without sue
cess.
The air was cold; the illiinitable sea
rolled below them. II the balloon
descended into the water, there would
be some chance of saving their lives.
To fall violently upon the earth
was TO be dashed TO pieces; to fall in
the sea gave them an opportunity of
being picked up by ship, and keep
ing afioat for certain time by their
own exertions.
Vidal determined to make an effort
to save his life and that OF his com
panion.
With the utmost care, yet with
dauntIsss bravery, he climbed up the
ropes which held the car TO the bal
loon.
At certain height he could see the
valve.
In his hand he carried n piece OF
string, which he wished TO attach to
the valve.
If he could succeed in doing this,
their salvation would be secured!
Should he miss his footing, he
would be dashed into the abyss be-
low.
Better such death than one OF
slow starvationl At last he reached
the valve, and placed the string over
the hook which was attached TO II.
Then his strength gave way and he
fell down.
Fortunately he tumbled into the
car, which shook and strained very
much, but the cordage bein8good, 1t
did not give way. The piece OF string
fioated in the breeze.
His next task was TO lay hold OF IL.
By robbing the wicker-work car OF
some OF its minor component parts,
he constructed a sort OF fshiDg-rod,
and hooked the string.
Pulling it gently, he awaited the re-
suit with feverish impatience.
The balloon began TO descend.
. The finale was now very simple.
The balloon fell into the sea within
half a mile Of large steamship,
which instantly lowered boat.
The jeweler and the commissionaire
were taken out OF the seething waves,
extremely glad to be rescued from
their perilous position.
They were taken on board the ship,
which proved to be the Black Prince,
from Liverpool to New York; conse-
quently they had descended In the
Atlantic.