The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-29
AW AERIAL RL!zVAWAY
By W. P. and c. p. Chibman..
Copyrioht 1901. Lothrop Publishing Company.
CHAPTER XIII.
A PerilouS Descent.

pile apparatus which the professor had ex-
planned to his comrades while the articles being
made They unroled the big air sack and placed it
elevated platform, which had been erected by the
aeronauts order with the hoop projecting short dis
tance the edge The quickly attached
to native wickerwork basket and then the work Of
loading commenced
Professor Barton would allow to DO this but
himself of the utmost Importance that the pack
ages be arranged keep the in perfect equi
librum. One by the carefully made parcels
handed to him and slowed away in the space under the
skilled hands of Mr.. Barton to arrange each parcel in its
proper place. and the hardly half hour high
when he announced:
''Everything is in readiness. We will therefore
begin initiating the balloon. l will start the fre.'
This done, and then at the aeronaut's
direction number of the attendants of Tupac mounted
the platform and held the folds of cloth apart much
possible to allow the heated air free into
the great sack.
While the fire getting: under way, the professor
turned to his companions saying:
"You will notice that the wind is now blowing from
the east, and WILL therefore, carry away from the
plateau chose this time this place for two
The wind here is always easterly in the early
morning. and it is only about four thousand feet down to
the lower of the mountain at this point whereas
thousand feet''
Ten minutes passed. The great globe nearly
dstended and longer needed the support of the
ants who descended to the ground The amazement on
the faces of all the natives had increased the work
gressed until there somewhat of fear mingled with it.
'Come,' said the aeronaut, cit is time for to
take places in the In very few moments the
balloon will rise' Then turning to Admaxla's father
he continued yesterday promised the people at the
with powers which will enable him to scale the
mountain side On the evening before the day he is ex
peced therefore, have rusy messenger waiting here,
who can bring you word Of his arrival before it is an
nouncd to the people, -. ~
The two chefs readily promised that the courier
should be there and then after all had shaken hands with
the curacas, the five voyagers stepped into the
Already the airship swayng in the morning breeze
and barely had the little company taken their assigned
positions when it slowly began to
Inch by inch it rose, with notion and SO
quietly that the car was several inches from the ground
before the onlookers noticed it, when they did, however,
with awesrcken faces they fell to the ground and
that went
''The gods have come down to us!'
Here stronger current of air caught the balloon
and carried it, still rising slowly, off beyond the edge Of
the plateau, and the of the mountain nearly
mile below AS he the ground receding, Admaxla's
face grew pale, and he cutched the side of the car
tightly:
Noticing: this Professor Barton said kindly and re-
assuringly:
"Do not be alarmed, my lad: There is no danger
long sit perfectly stl.' Then turning to the
other occupants Of the basket he went con account
of the rude nature of airship will be obliged to
remain nearly motionless possibe.'
The native lad seemed entirely satisfied by his
friend assurance and gazed calmly back at his native
land now some distance away.
questioned Todd. .'>
"Not very many minutes,'' the awe
shall probably reach the ground again within a half
hour. See, we have already commenced to fall!'
It was fact which all could detect by glancing
back at the cliff they had just left Its summit
some distance above them, and as they looked, rose
higher and higher. conclusive proof that they
slowly dropping
1--WE shall be in ten minutes more, if all goes
wen' declared Professor Barton "and see! shall
land almost exactly opposite the break in the pathway
down the mountain side. That is WELL for it will enable
follow the old TRAIL just if had crossed the
chasm by BRIDGE"
Slowly the MOMENTS passed; the balloon within
fifty feet of the ground when suddenly Rod touched the
aeronau Look there'' he cried in alarm t'The
canvas is on fre!''
As he spoke fame burst out from side of the
sack with rush the heated air escaped the
collapsed; and balloon and dropped to the
ground with thud which threw them into heap yet
seriously injured; and hastily picking them
selves up, they jumped from the wreck
"Any hurts'' asked the professor, anxiously.
Then he all able to about, he went
stNo7 Thank God for thati Now we must remove our
supplies from the before they take fire. and he
suited his action to his Words and the last parcel
removed just as the wckerwork of the took fire.