Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1895-10-03

good for you. Will you"
"At any rate" cried he, vehemently,
"it's worth trying, SO here goes" and
seizing one of the sandbags he threw
1t over. The lightened balloon at once
began to rise more quickly.
what are you doing, Jack?" shout
ed. For heavens sake keep calm.
We are a good height already. We
shan't Ge able to breathe if we go
much higher. It's getting uncomfort-
able, us it is"
"Shan't we? We shall sec about
that. I'm going TO try, anyhow. Be-
sides, don't care If can't breathe. |
want to see my Ada. That's all care
about"
began to fear the worst. Was he
going mad? We're the reports my wife
had heard literally true, and not ex-
aggerated after all? What fool had
been not to be more cautiousl Whether
he was mad or-not, he was in danger
GUS mood, and my position was far
from pleasant. To oppose him would
evidently aggravate him and make
matters worse. To humor him was un-
doubtedly the wisest course.
Look here, Jackl' cried. "You
say you want to see Ada I can tell
you of better and surer way of going
to her than this. If you will listen to
me-(here | involuntarily moved my
hand toward the valve cord)-if you
will listen to me L"
None of your blarney, mani I'm
not to be wheedled so. I'm too old q
boy for that. Leave the cord alone,
can't you? Pm not going down again
to-day. I'm going to see what's up
there, and don't you try to stop me-"
and he glared fercely at me.
The horrible nature of my situation
was now only too apparcnt-there
could no longer be any doubt of Tun-
nicliffe's condition. was in a balloon
with a mailman, and about four miles
from the earth, felt the cold sweat
on my brow, and my brain began to
reel. But with tremendous effort
pulled myself together, for my only
chance of safety was in retaining my
self-possession. To attempt to over
power him was out of the question
the strength of mailman is so we'll
known. My only hope of escape was
to outwit him. But how? Forced in
to unnatural activity as my brain was
by my desperate situation, and by the
necessity of prompt action, l could
think of no device or ruse that would
do any good; was completely at the
mercy of the mailman.
The hopelessness OF my case para
lyzed ALI my energies. felt unable to
move or speak, and even the power TO
think was almost gone. In my despair
l. glanced at the valve cord. Owing
sb the rotary motion of the balloon it
had unfortunately become entangled.
To free it should be obliged to leave
the car and climb into the ring. But
to attempt such thing (cven if were
physically capable of ~ would be GER
tain to lead to struggle which would
as certainly send one or both of us out
OF the car.
We were now ut such q height that
asphyxia was imminent. could hear
my heart throb quito plainly. !
breathed with difficulty, and horri.
BILE sensation like that of sea-sickness
came over me. The cold was so in.
tense that shivered, Notwithstanding
my wraps The mental strain was ter
rible. | was almost frantic. Know
ing, however, that in few minutes
should be unconscious, and that Their
all would be over with me, nerved
myself for one last effort.
As rose from my seat my, eye fell
on the grapnel. For tunately it was or
my side of the car. A sudden idea
struck me, here was weapon to
hand. 1t was an awful thought
would be q terrible deed. But there
was now no alternative, no time fol-
delay. My senses were going.
stretched out my hand, but the mad
man, who never took his eye off me-
had detected my purpose With sud.
den movement he darted forward ant
seized the grapnel, but in his eager
ness to forestall me he had precipitat
ed himself too far over the side of the
car and almost lost his balance. Ii,
made desperate effort to recover
himself, but, seized with sudden anc
irresistible impulse, pushed him over
and with a horrible yell, which rings
in my ears whenever recall the oc
currence, the mailman disappeared
from my sight.
Almost mad myself am not sur
that l was not quite so just then
climbed into the ring to reach thu
valve line. But my hands were 8,
stiff and numb with the cold that
could not grasp the cord. BY kim
of inspiration which seemed providen
tial seized the cord with my teeth
and after two or three tugs the valv
opened with loud clang, and the bal
loon began to descend. Thank heav
eni was saved. My hands being use
less, l was obliged to throw up m.
arms and drop into the car, where
lay motionless and unconscious TO
awhile.
My swoon could not have lasted NOR
than few seconds, for when recov
cred the barometer showed that wa
still in high altitude, although tn
balloon was descending rapidly.
rubbed and beat my hands until tn
: circulation was restored. Then Sc
: about taking the necessary precaution
! against too rapid descent. But
acted more like an automaton than
conscious agent, for l seemed in kin
Of a stupor or trance all the time.
How and where ! reached the soil
earth i cannot say. have only din
hazy recollection of being surrounde
by crowd of people. Some wer
bending over me and seemed to b
questioning me, but | couldn't MAX
out what they said. felt an awfu
pain in my head, and remember moth
ing more until found myself In be
| In dark room and my wife bendin