The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-04-27

wa1 beiuxes Frame and Germany. lie Uds
d, a,ps snto inference p'fA the FRENCH GtnsraI
s"s1ieasfsyn border. adams declares ms .
fei.t. He urges balloon reeonnoissance 20 tAs
northeast. and detail Of troops 70 6loeA aduenee;
ys 1 1ssss s.s ss at ere
General Martini, Rechere (erpe,t 6aAoonisf),
and lSsyeiess telseva1Ay, lead Ihs Advance, car
rpng a field wor balloon. The ascent g maze
sna " s o,es f Ses sI Is saen
German shell and begins TO taU swiftly INTO tue
nidsf nj fhe troops.
CHAPTER II.
The balloon was now within half a
mile Of the earth. and settling steadily.
Beneath us was sea of troops. the
gave a groan and sank by my side,
Shot through the heart. Martins hand
was shattered as 1t gripped the rail
Of the basket expscted de ths ana
porting cable at one end of the basket.
1t seemed miserable to be thus tar
get for the bullets OF thousand SOL
Suddenly s,efi My'n the eo basket gave violent
lurch. Instinctively my grasp tight.
ened on the supporting cable; and well
1t was. for. at that instant well d.
cable at the other end. and the car
swayed, hanging by the one slender
wire rope. I drew myself up and got
firm hold Ct the r network hu surround
ping for my very life with both hands;
and as I looked down I saw Martini
whirling over and over In mid air, and
like a plummet. Then the single sup
port gave way, and the basket went
down after them.
l closed my eyes, sick with horror
and faint from my tremendous muscu-
low affn rfu tn
scious of swift flight through the air.
The sounds Of shooting became fainter.
The whistle Of bullets ceased. real
lied that. the balloon. freed OF its
basket, was rising rapidly into the up
per air. All, then I would escape, after
all. l tried to collect my thoughts,
knowing that should I lose conscious
ness my grip would weaken.
Suddenly felt that I had entered
stratum Of cold air. 1t was sweet and
pure. 1t stimulated me, opened my,
eyes, and glanced below me: Earth
Remember, now, that / hung by the
grip of two hands, from coarse net
made Of half-inch rope forming a cas-,
ing for the balloon: I u knew ie I'll that !
must let go and follow. my late COM
panions. Summoning all my nerve, l
threw up one leg, and as luck would
have It, caught my toGe e IN fbro mesh n Oh
til the rope was under my knee; then
rested for a few sweet minutes hang
ing there like a crab, one leg swing
ing free Presently l secured a Similar
hold with the other foot; then working
slowly and carefully, managed to get
both arms into the meshes, and for a
y blessed interval was relieved OF Sc severe re
The balloon seemed now to be NOV
ing swiftly. In the wind, but neither
motion, the absolute quiet, and the
WEAKNESS of body resulting from. my
tight grip Of the net, produced ten
d fsF to to m sseR to kesp a%ake
finding that even this would not suftice
l determined to make myself secure
At imminent risk. for ! was getting
right hand, and reaching IN my pocket
got my knife, opening it with my teeth
l cut through half a dozen meshes Of
the net and thus made q mole iarg;e
ders, pushing away the envelopine
folds Of the somewhat flabby balloon
BY degrees. 7 worked my whole body
thanks to God found myself lying fla
upon the strong net work, my bach
against the gas-bag. So great was tht
relief Of this position that sank lns'
It seemed an age later when I awoke
hearing my name spoken by the vo1c'
of q woman. opened my eyes ant
a SGfsS sTGup 81 m ssen lay e NJ
whole body ached, and my head seem
ed to be several times it's ordinary size
Then voice--that of the woman
Monsieur must be quiet. 1t is best
Monsieur Is safe and will soon be wei
again."
and saw approaching me what .
thought to be the most beautiful. wo
man I had ever seen. Fair and talli
the old French type, she, seemed yer
a white lace cap, which served onl!
partially to restrain her brown curls
Her dress was simple-of white, will
touch Of blue at ana an6
over me. shall remember to my dy
ing day her soft, cool hands presse'
upon my aching brow. Her loose sie &c,
to the elbows and / recall, even now
the desire, as fell asleep, that coul'
have those arms about my neck.
ing " much refreshed. MY fair nurs
brought me a glass OF. cool milk, an
held my head in the hollow Of her arm
as drank, smiling and nodding, at me
presently found myself able to speak
"Where am II" was my first ques
ton.
She told me that was in the Cha
Meuse River, some distance northwes
which I could readily understand
sheughh my she own Told e hoW a
my balloon had come cTashlng I'M
grove OF trees near the Chateau; hoy
the gardeners had released me froi
my prison in the net; and how, ha
been brought into the house, py &c
fathers Instructions, and cared L9
through the night. l was seriousl
bruised about the head and .n shoulder Ter
and they thought at first that va
dead Later. her father, Frenc
nobleman of the old regime, came !
the bedside, expressed his . pieasSu a
that Monsieur Ad-dams" Nney na
learned my name from papers found
me that / need have no concern as I
INV perfect welcome to remain. as HI
guest until should be completely re
stored to health.
! suppose 1t was the shock that blot
recollection of my identity, or my re
cent experience. I knew simply that
was in Paradise. with this adorabl
angel always at hand to minister t
hunger or thirst, and to talk softly t
me at intervals between maps. Sh
teld me much about herself. She wa
but twenty, an only child. with n
mother that she could remember. Sh
and her father, and the faithful ser
wants, lived alone. She seemed yer
happy. And II she was happy, wha
Of myself? Before ! was able, to 81
I'm ond aot aolid food 1 knew that m