The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-04

PART Ill.
This was not what i wished or IN
tended 1t was also not what L eX-
pected; but / did not wonder al II, nor
was at all surprised. l should have
known that if the balloon could carry
eight twenty-fve-pound bags of SAND,
or two hundred pounds altogether, that
there would be no difficulty about it's
getting away with me, who weighed
something less than hundred and sew
enty-hve The only trouble was that
did not think of this fact until had
cut those last two cords and all at
once found myself floating over the
house tops. with one arm and one leg
thrown over the edge of the car and
with both hands tightly gripping the
rim of it.
IL only arose to an elevation of sew
snty-five or eighty feet from the
ground; from which fact, j argued,
that some of the gas hnd escaped, 9th
erwise. the weight being less, il would
have been more buoyant and gone
higher.
The wind had now changed, and the
balloon logged along at a pretty iively
rate, in direction which would soon
bring it over, the market place, from
which 1 had originally started. now
thought / should be more comfortable
il / could get into the car, and made
the effort 10 do so. but il was ticklish
operation, as I had 70 squeeze in be-
tween the cords which held it, BE-
sides this, the car itself tilted over so
ebomnably every time tried to get
into II, that soon gave up the idea and
decided to ride il out as / was.
Being resigned to this situation, l
now began TO feel more at my ease. and
really TO find some pleasure in this, TO
me, novel mode of travelling. There
was full moon that night; but there
were many clouds floating across the
heavens, so that sometimes the streets
below me were lighted up, and at other
times were shrouded in darkness. 1
halooed nj two or three belated pedes-
trians who were passing beneath me,
and noticing their astonishment and
tlismny at being thus hailed from the
clouds above their heads, l took pains
TO accost others In the same manner.
Two old ladies who were plcddingN
homeward by the light of lantern
which one of them carried were so
startled by this diabolical summons
from the upper air that they dropped
the light and took to their heels as il
they were competing in the Olympian
races.
In about Eve minutes / had passed
beyond the town in southerly direc-
ton, and in four or five minutes more 1
began TO float abcve n dense black for
est which seemed Amitless In extent.
had heard of great forest therca-
bout, containing many square miles,
forest which was the domain of
strange and fierce old German noble,
the Graf von Schreokenstrohm. This
was undoubtedly IL. II had descended
10 him directly from an ancestor who
lived in the Thirteenth century;
fcudal baron. who bore NE sobriquet
OF "the wild boar of Schrecltenstrohm."
1t was also said that the present Graf
von Schreckenstrohm had inherited
not only the forest and the great feudal
rnstle which stood upon an island in the
midst of the Schreckenstrohm. but also
the peculiarities which gave to his an
cestor that playful nickname.
I was thinking about these matters
rs sailed along. at the rate of about
I2 miles an hour. over the tons Of the
AR trees and pines. Twas also thinking
about Jack and his wife, and wondering
what they would suppose Of my sudden
and unceremonious departure. i also
wondered whether Mrs. Jenkins was
still talking. and the thought Of that
made me quite contented with the pecu-
liar situation in which found myself,
though was getting tired and felt very
lnme from sticking 10 the same posi-
tion. AMI having TO hold on so tightly;
and would willingly have got Oft at some
wav station and rested until the next
balloon came along.
After had passed over the tops Of the
Forest for a mile or so. .,ecame con-
Ecious of the sound of roSring river
which increased in volume as I pro-
ceeded Then there seemed to be
break in the woods, and saw beneath
me the glittering white foam of a mad
and mighty torrent. At the same time.
there rose before me, from n rocky
ISLAND in the midst of the flood. great,
half-ruined. medieval castle, with round
towers and turrets, with keep and bar
bacans and parapets galore. Gray and
stern and specter-lille il loomed up be-
fore me. and IL seemed as though was
sbout directly over IL.
The direction which I was now TAX.
Eng would bring me Immediately above
n wide embrosured parapet. which
stretched between two towers. - It's
present altitude, the balloon would
clear IL by but a few feet. at once de.
cided that this was the way station I
was looking for. and that would alight
there. When was within fifty feet of
81, beheld "A mnn IN his shirt sleeves.
standing behind this psrapet and watch
ing me approach. Some persons might
haze been astonished at this. but / did
not wonder at u in the least. There
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