The evening world., 1911-10-10

49,
face when n hole half as
large at Its top would collapse II.
nd, though several shots were fired In
response to the order to fire at the
gas bag. the balloo had by this time
reen out OF pistol range. Max leaned
over the side OF the swinging car and
looked down. After a few more shots
the men below seemed to have realized
how useless Il was to continue shooting.
Now they stood gesticulating mp at him
or ran aimlessly to and fro, shaking
their fists.
Tho balloon no longer rocketed up
ward. 1t had settled 10 a slower pace.
With nothing On either side by which
20 u whether he was stlll rising or
not. he tore a scrap from the corner
OF an old newspaper that was wrapped
around some object In the bottom of the
cor. Then ne tossed the bi, OF paper
q the air. It futtered downward with
. steadiness that shove him he was
sill rising. Now the group OF excited
men below him had dwindled TO tho
etge OF dolls. The country all around
lay stretched out Ike a mighty. virl-
eolored map. To southwark he could
see the white tents ~ the Army ~
Northern Virginia spread out Ike n
midget village around n darker dot
hat was Lees headquarters. Near the
camp bodies Of men were drilling. They
looked Ike blocks r. toy soldiers. Reiow
the car, a hundred feet, called a turkey
buzzard.
Another bit of paper tossed over tho
side hung almost moveless In the air
for nj instant. Then II was caught by
a Whit Of wind from tho south and
blown away. The balloon had evidently
ceased to rise and had entered one Of
the mysterious air currents that are
as plentiful and as contrary IN the
upper atmosphere as are currents. tides
and od6ies In n body of water.
This wind was from the south and 4
showed the great gas bag gently north
ward before II. Max was o~verioyei.
Here was better luck than no had
dared to count on. Tho w'nd might
have been from the north and thus
hsve swept him back into the enomy's
country, n helpless prisoner, or. from
tire west. II might nave carried him far
out 20 sea. Put by wondrous good
fortune Il was bearing him straight
%northward toward his own lines.
Already he could imagine the amaze
mcnt OF his fellow soldiers when hi,
aircraft should settle gracefully down
In the middle of the Union camp. Then
ne began to examine the balloon. lie
mad never before been In one, and the
slightly rocking motion made him a
little seasick. Moreover, AT that great
height the morning ar was cold, and
he was glad for the protection OF the
wsrm blue uniform coat.
He had not tho f1!n'"st notion how
20 control a balloon. We remembered
reading that II should No l~!gh'ened hy
thro wing out sand anf that the pulling
Of some cord opened a valve which
would let out enough gas to enable
tho car to sink eorthwnrd. \ toncle
Of cords was all around Max. Fut he
had no Idea which connected with any
valve.
The balloon still moved slowly ana
steadily northward. 7 ookinr down a~aln
Max Clark could see tho cavalry t~rott!ng
along underneath. keGplng up with II In
the hope OF catching I've hOv when +hp
-'oon should descend. lie wondered
at first why they sNou'd follow a cha 40
so seemingly hopeless. Then, M tho
pursuers and other objects on the earth
began to grow larger and more distinct.
he understood.
The balloon was settling. Every min
ute II was sinking n little nearer the
ground. The bullet rip IN the sllken bag
rras letting out too much gas. And, all
once, Mays sense o: gleeful security
-nishcd.
lie had thought himself not only safe
hut ~miraculously started on hts way 10
his own camp, But. apparently, ne had
merely postponed his capture and rem
dered II all the more certain. He tore
of a third scrap Of raDer to gauge the
speed OF the gradual descent, As he ala
30 the Nat object. a~ound which the
sheet of newspaper had been wrapped,
came to view. II was a broken bit OF
looking glass about as large as a mans
hand. doubtless boarded by some soldier
as a shaving mirror.
Al once Its possibilities leaped TO
Max's mind. S,ill holding II. he looked
about him to determine his exact locl-
tion. Below him stretched the forest,
Not a half mile beyond stood a tall.
TASTED pine tree-a mere branches pole
a full hundred feet hlgh-v h!ch he
recognized. II was ~ the base % this
Ntree he had parted from Ray Cans.
whereabouts. he knew, Ray must st!Il be
awaiting hlm.
MAJ shook the bit OF mirror Wildly,
that its reelection Of the suns rays
might catch Gans's eye. The cavalry
men below saw the manoeuyro and