The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-10-28

three and a half hours from the time
| s:.nrted; then in twelve hourz { will
be over China
Suddenly Bob's face assumed a puz-
zled expression, and he stood up, look
ing toward the east, where the smallest
TIP OF the suns disk was peeping at
him over the waters edge.
What is the matter with the SUM-"
he exclaimed. why, I've beeneup in
the heavens for fully an hour, and yet
the sun has not risen an inch in all
that li1 til. time, but shows exactly the same
little red rim above the horizon that it
did when l first saw IT," w.. a.s-.l ii
Bob sat down. and for ten minutes
racked his brain endeavoring to ac-
count for the mysterious behavior of
the celestial body, that obstinately re-
fused to come into view. At length he
gave utterance to an exclamation, sig
nltylng that he had found the answer
to the problem. @-... -..
Eureka!' he cried. t'I see it! Why
this balloon is itself like star, because
II mas taken up fixed place in the
Sky, and it would keep this same posi-
ton and distance from the sun even
though I staid here for year,"
IL was about eight o'clock when Bob,
who had been feasting on some of the
many good things contained in Franks
bundle, looked down again at the
Whlrllng earth. In the next breath he
was leaning over the edge of the basket
with bag Of sand ballast in his arms,
ready to pitch it out, so as to tighten
the balloon; for there, in plain view,
just below him, was a land of Wild
rugged appearance, intersected with
huge caverns and valleys and thick in
places with snow and ice. At first
thought Bob believed that the balloon
was sinking to the earth; then another
idea came to him, and dropping the
sand bag to the floor, he sastily con-
suited his watch and book
THE Rocky mountains!" he cried in
his excitement, and leaned over for an
other look, but already they were gone
from beneath him and passing into
dimness in the east
About an hour after this, glittering
expanse completely excircled Bob's
vision, and he knew that the Pacific
ocean was below him. At four o'clock
in the afternoon land again appeared
in the west, which proved to be the
Japan islands. At six o'clock, twelve
hours after starting, the ballon was
over China, and Bob smiled to think
that by simply pulling the valve-rope
he could in very few minutes make
it possible to step out among the moon
eyed and pigtailed Celestials And so
the hours sped on, and so the coun-
tries of the world kept revolving as a
panorama below the steadily poised
balloon. An hour after midnight Eu-
rope rolled away and the Atlantic
ocean swept beneath.
1t was nearing six o'clock, when
away in the west purple shadow
pointed out the approaching coast of
the United States. Bob's journey around
the world was nearing it's end.
When the eastern point of Long
Island came stretching toward him like
big snake, Bob jumped up and pulled
the valve-rope. Almost Immediately
the balloon went plunging toward the
earth as would a wounded bird. AS he
looked over the edge of the basket,
Bob gave voice to surprised delight, for
there, just short distance below him,
were the fair grounds that he had left
twenty-four hours before; and looking
up at him and waiting for the balloon
to land was quite a crowd of people,
among whom he could make out his
father and his chum Frank.
Bob had evidently in his excitement
allowed too much gas to escape, for the
car came to the earth with thud that
knocked him almost senseless, so that
his father was obliged to lift him out
OF the basket while the men were en-
gagged in securing the balloon.
When Bob came to himself he gazed
about in bewildered way, first at
Frank, who hung his head in shame
faced manner then at his father, who
was mildly Shaking him, while he ex-
claimed, in voice of vexed amuse-
ment:
Come, come, my boy; wake up, and
let us go home!'
So it had been dream after all.
At first Bob was inclined to be very
angry with Frank, believing that the
latter had become frightened and be-
trayed the 'plan,. but the latter explain
ed that his father had heard him when
he returned for the glasses, had con-
tronted him, and obliged him to tell
the story. Mr.. Wright Immediately
called on Bob's father, and acquainted
him with the reason for calling him
out of bed. Together the two parents
made their way to- the fair grounds,
and with several of the workmen Wis
tied the balloon, in which they found
Bob asleep.
The same day the fair closed, and
the balloon was rolled up and carted
away, to be no longer temptation to
the young rivals of Jules Verne.
Bob's father looks upon the whole
thing as a great joke, and laughingly
tells his son that he had better study
the laws of gravitation before he seeks
to. circle the world in twenty-four
hours; but Bob declares that his theory
is correct, for he has carefully gone