The Delta independent., 1906-04-27
CHAPTER II

CHAPTER IL
The balloon was now within half a
mile OF the earth. and settling steadily.
Beneath us was IA of troops. The
, bullets came I'm a shower. Rechere
gave sroan and sank by my side,
shot through the heart MartinIs hand
was shattered as IL gripped the rail
OF the basket ! expected death. and
II seemed miserable TO be thus tar
get for the bullets of n thousand SOL
suddenly the basket gave n violent
lurch lns,inctiyely my grasp light
It was. for, at that Instant weil di-
rected shell from a rapid-ffrer cut the
cable at the other end. and the car
.wayed. hanging by the. one slender
wire rope; i drew myself up and got
frm hold of the network surround
pins for my very lie with both hands;
and MS ] looked down l saw Martini
wshiriiinE ,s i over aud over In mid air. and
Ike a plummet. Then ,he single sup
port gave way. ana the basket went
down after them.
l closed my eyes, sick with horror
and faint from my tremendous muscu-
lar efforts. As IN a dream was con-
ssious OF swift Night through the air.
This sounds Of shooting became fainter.
Tho whistle OF bullets ceased. i real
:sod that tho balloon. freed of II.
basket. was rising rapidly into the up
per air. All. then would escape. after
~.
knowing that should lose conscious
ness my grip wosla weaken.
Suddenly felt tina, had entered .
pure. ], sti@Slaaea f9' @ me "S opened f@sd amy my
eyes, and glanced below, me. Earth
ssuld not bc seen. i was In the clouds.
Remember. now. that hung by the
grip OF two hands. from a coarse net
made OF half.ineh rope forming cas-
i2s for the balloon. 4 knew that I
pan,ohs. summonin. all my nerve. i
hnvc IL. caught my foot In "A mesh of
tho net pushed my leg through un-
.ne rspS sew snsef as, y
Ing there like a crab. one leg swing
ing free. Presently I secured "A similar
siowly and carefully. managed to get
both arms Into the moshos. and for
strain. though my hold was BY no
The balloon sccmed now TO be NOV.
rislp. nor falling. Tho steady gliding
motion. the absolute quiet. and the
tish, Strip OF the net. prcdSecd a ten N.
asinsy to If sissRf Vas Ssn eo%pSiled ,nS ,S
] determined to make myself secure.
4, immlnent risk. for ! was getting
right hand. and REACHING in my pocket
got my knife, opening u with my teeth;
Gu, ,hrossh hal half ,d dozen 5ois mfshSs ;s-s OF
enough to admit my head aud shoul-
ders, pushing away the enyel9pins
BY degrees ! worked my whole body
through. and nnhlly, with q prayer OF
upon tho strong net work. my back
against the Eas-hag So great was tho
relief OF this position that / sank in'o
Ii seemed an age later when I awoke.
hearing my name spoken by the voice
surrounded by silkon drapcyy. My
whole body achcd. and my head seem
Then voice--thnt OF the woman
spoke again. In soft. ripping French:
."Monsicur must be ani:t. II Is best;
/ looked in tho direction of the sound
Jand saw approaching mo what l
thought TO be tho most beautiful wo.
man ! had ever seen. Fair and tall. OF
liable. angel. Upon her head sne wore
white lace cap. which served only
pnr!isSly to rsssInn her er1Wn ni,s eaIis win
touch OF blue at throat and shoulders:
Shc cRmc to the bedside and leaned
Ing day her soft. cool hands pressed
upon my aching brow. Her loose slce-
yss shoMsd her faIr plump arms ARMS nnM nlsh
tho desire, MS I fell asleep, that l could
have those arms about my neck.
INK amesS masS " ftfrssssa. sS' !' Ny fair @ nurse
brought mo a glass OF cool milk. and
held my head In the hollow OF her arm
ns drank, smiling and nodAing. at me:
presently found myself able TO speak.
"whcro am II" was my nrst aucs-
tion.
She told me that was IN the Cha
tcau bagunay, on the west bank OF the
Mcuso River, some distance noTthwcsst nvs
which could readily nnderstand:
execrablc. she told me how at dawn
my balloon had come crashing into
the gardeners had released me from
my prison In tho net; and how had
been brought into the house. BY her
fathers Instructions, and cared Tor
through the. night. was seriously
and they thought at rrst that l was
dead Later her father French
nobiemnn OF the old regime. came to
The BEDSIDE. expressed his ,,bnS piSa1SMrSs SaS
icarned my namc from papers found IN
my pockcis) had recovered, assuring
mo that I need have no concern as 70
my perfect welcome 20 remain ns nis
stored to health.
suppose 1t was the shock that blot;
ted out. for tho next few days. NIL
recollection OF my Identity or my 70.
cent experience. ! knew simply that !
angel always at hand to minister tol
hunger or thirst. and to talk SOFTLY 20
mo mt Intervals between maps. She
tsid mo much about herself. 6ho was
nst my ,Ss s snd 9m she
s:a name ser .1St ssshor. or and The ssitsiai :sr:
HAPPY p ASd ~ she was happy. VIVA!