The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-10-30
CHAPTER XIII.


laus awoke with start from her
I troubled sleep. The density OF the air
over the Nile regions had lifted the
balloon to Il safe height and she found
/ herself above the clouds
This is my last day in this terrible
! machine 1 hope" she said aloud, ana
she began TO prepare for her departure
when the balloon grounded
She found two belts carefully stored
away. Each was filed with American
$50 gold pieces. There we're bank bills
and a letter OF credit toe. which the
! martyred scientists had hoped 90 use
when their expedition. had accomplished
its purpose and they had returned to
some civilized country.
/ Dorothy strapped the belts aboue nor
Then she stored k1apsack with such
necessities as she might needs if she
happened to become separated from ,he
! balloon.
I'm going TO stick to the ship tin it
goes 20 pieces and then whenever il
drops we shall camp together, she said
to herself.
WiCh care for every detail. Dorothy
gave up the whole morning 10 the prep
arations for landing. Then she quietly
awaited DEVELOPMENTS.
The country over which she was pass
lIlE ~ lt.Ar.i-ri- -lf.A even AlthILt ltA
I midabIc looking as the day wore on.
She saw here and there great masses OF
( armed men. some on camels while
/ others were mounted on horses or went
I af0Ot Although the sight was very
I spectacular and pleasing to the eTe, il
looked very much like war.
] Womanlike. Dorothy prayed to Zoe
. spared from landing amid such a con-
/ course.
/ Northward armed bodies OF native sol
dIers were moving along TO the music
/ OF barbarous pipes Sometimes as the
balloon swooped downward. the swarthy
/ hordes set up a shout that shook the
! heavens
They must imagine that I'm some
I sort OF an omen thought Dorothy.
/ but their shouts haven't the ring of
respect that savages ought 10 nave &c
I ward a divinity. I must get hiEher up
again" WhereuD0n she commenced to
/ Throw overheard sunGry articles TO
tighten the load of the burdeu-5earer
above her.
/ At noon she passed a city that looked
( so reDulsivc and Warlike that Dorothy
( resolved upon q new stratagem which
/ would prevent the possibility OF her
, lending near d.. She would swing one
! Of the h1mmocks from the balloon
I strands and cut the car loose thel,
I with this enormous weight gone, the bal-
1 loon would take 20 the heavens astiu
and would reach the Medlterraueau be-
I fore Il collapsed.
/ The girl drew forth the hammock
! with beating heart and made IL fast %
the network OF stays which bound the
balloon Then she placed therein bundle
OF food. a few bottles ol water together
4 with a rife and ammunition.
The car IS held 10 the great bag OF
I gas by twelve strands of rope, and all
/ taese. save four on opposite sides, she
cuts away with the keen edge OF
sword. After this she CrceDs into her
hammock. for there is no time % lose,
The earth ls growing dangerously near
! her now. She draws herself to one side
and then the other. slashiEg through the
/ two end ropes so that the basket tilts,
but stu clings by two threads. By an
other desperate effort she manages 90
sever the further rope with the point
OF her sword ana down swings the ear
I by a single strand.
one touch oI the razor edged blade TO
the remaining rope and the car piuuses
down into the Nile below with splash
while tile huge fabric shoots upward
half "a mile at q bound.
Dorothy looked dove for the nEs-
time since she had crawled into her
hammock. A Hameless terror froze tae
+ Blood iu Esr veins. III seemed cas- II she
I had parted from her only friend in "a
world
Although she had reached "a higher
altitude and had entered current uf
air taat was bearing her rapidly north
ward the peril and EelpIessnEss of
swinging there In hammock at the
height of half a mile from Jhe ground
I F.s.rr
could do was TO close her eyes and pray
that the two cords might hold, and
that she might be carried quickly 20
safety
/ But alas. this prayer was rot 10 Doc
granted The wind rose toward night,
and though il bore her ou with double
rapidity the swinging of the balloon
! became uubearabIe.
| I'm vain she tried to Stay it with some
/ of the dangling ropes tH1t beat abou,
her With every gust there came THAI
frightCuI plunge, ending with Jerk
/ that strained every uue- oil the hlw-
mock
/ Finally, ut dusk, simeon spraug up
I Fruuu the southwest and broke over
her tt was hot sand blast that beat
down and contorJed the balloon. Twice
| the maeIstrom turned % completely over,
carrying Dorothy with 10 bon ITS WHlrl-
| zns convuisiors-
Then suddenly the foot rope of the
I hammock gave way and the poor sand
| blown girl found herself swinging frola
"a single strand, ard hanging with her
arms thrust through the meshes of the
hammock.
But the breaking OF the foot rope Wa-
fortunate in that her body. hanging 8.
far below the balloon. gave it d steady
ing medium.
The storm passed. The moon rose AND
the calm earth was spread out before
her. The wind began TO die down tn,
air cleared. and inch by inch the balloon
settled nearer the earth.
Managing 10 set 90 her knapsacl
Dorothy restored herself with food an
drink. Then she looked below her ant
shuddered al the thought OF landing IL
this dcsolste place; yet she thanked Co,
for enabling her TO reach land again
wherever 30 might be.