The La Jara chronicle., 1906-04-27
CHAPTERi iIA-


The balloon was now within half n
mile OF the earth, and settling steadily.
Bullets came m s in ssh Shove i troops; I4e
gave Sroan and sank by my side
shot through the heart. Martins hand
of the basket 1 expected death, and
stood erect, again, grasping the sup
porting cable at one end of the basket.
1t seemed miserable to be thus a tar
get for the bullets of thousand SOL
Siers with no opportunity to reply.
lurch. 1nstinctively my grasp tight
ened on the supporting cable: and well
1t was. for at that instant n well di-
rected shell from rapid-flrer cut the
cable at the other end. and the car
swayed. hanging by the ono slender
n firm hold of the network surround
ing the gas bag There l hung, grip
and as 1 looked down l saw Martini
whirling over and over in mid air. and
like a plummet. Then ] the single ''iitI5 sups
port gave way, and the basket went
down after them.
closed my eyes, sick with horror
and faint from my tremendous muscu-
scious of swift hight through the air.
Theisounds of shooting became fainter.
The whistle of bullets ceased. i real
lied that the balloon, freed of its
WMeis1lt OF passengers. apparatus, and
per air. Ah, then I would escape. after
all. n tried to, collect my thoughts,
ness my grip would weaken. -sl-7sagssa-
Suddenly 1 felt that I had entered a
stratum of cold air. 1t was sweet and
pure. 1t stimulated me- l opened my
eyes, and glanced below me Earth
could not be seen. 1 was in the clouds.
Remember, now, that 1 hung by the
grip of two hands, from n coarse net
made of half-inch rope forming a cas-
ing for the balloon. l knew that l
, should soon be compelled to rest or l
must let go and follow my late COM
panions. Summoning all my nerve, l
threw up one leg. and as luck would
have 1t, caught my foot in a mesh OF
the net. 1 pushed my leg through un-
til the rope was under my knee; then
ing there like a crab one leg swing
ing free. Presently l secured similar
hold with the other. foot; then working
both arms into the meshes. and for a
blessed interval was relieved of severe
strain. though my hold was by no
The balloon seemed now to be NOV
Ing swiftly In the wind, but neither
weariness of body resulting from my
tight grip of the net, produced a ten
talk to j myself to keep awake. and
finding that even this would not suffice
i determined to make myself secure
woefulIy cramped. l let go with my
right hand, and reaching in my pocket
got my knife; opening it with my, teeth;
I cut through half q dozen meshes OF
the net and thus made de-. q d hole Large Large
ders, pushing away the enveloping
folds OF the somewhat flabby balloon,
BY degrees 1 worked my whole body
through, and finally. with a prayer OF
thanks to God found myself lying fiat
apon the hs stronf net S w1rk gFsat my 6dGE 6S
relief of this position that l sank 1n,u
instant sleep.
hearing my name spoken by the voice
of woman. 1 opened my eyes and
looked around me; l lay in he'd bed
whole body ached. and my head SEEM
ed to be several times its ordinary size.
Then a voice--that.. of the woman;
spoke again. in soft, ripping French;
Monsieur must be quiet. 1t Is best:
Monsieur is safe and Will soon be well
looked in the direction of the sound
! and saw approaching me what l
man i had ever seen. Fair and tall, of
the old French type, she seemed YER
aSlS nge CPon RsT heaa 19S
partially to restraint her brown curls.
Her dress was simple-of white. with
She came to theS bedside and leaned
over me. 1 shall remember to my dy,
yes showed her fair, plump arms nigh
to the elbows. and recall, even now;
have those arms about my neck.
I awoke again. some time later. feel
ing mucn refreshed. MY ldlI nurse
brought me a glass of cool milk, and
held my head in the hollow of her arm
as drank. smiling and nodding at me;
Then 1 lay quiet for n while, and
presently found myself able to speak
where am II" was my first ques-
tion.
She told mo that I was in the Cha
teau Lagunay. on the west bank OF the
Meuse River, some distance northwest
of Verdun. In the prettiest French
which l could readily understand n,ie am
execrable. she told me how at dawn
my balloon had come crashing into
n grove of trees near the Chateau; now
the gardeners had released me from
my prison in the net: and how l had
fathers Instructions. and cared foi
bruised about the head and shoulders
and they thought at first that was
nobleman of the old regime, came to
that .Monsieur Ad-dams" Ohey had
learned my name from papers found In
my pockets) had recovered, assuring
me that l need have no concern as to
my perfect welcome to remain as his
guest until should be completely re-
stored to health.
I suppose 1t was the shock that blot
ted out. for the next few days. all
cent experience. 1 knew simply that
!, was in Paradise, with this adorable
angel always at hand to minister TO
hunger or thirst, and to talk softly to
tsld me much about herself. She was
but twenty. an only child. with no
mother that she could remember. She
and her father and the faithful SER
yants. lived alons. She seemed very
Of rpvaetf9 RafOra I was able to sit