Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-06-21

1
meant to destroy all trace of my ex-
istence. tore flercely at my bonds.
but the ropes merely cut the deeper
into the flesh of my hands. / wonder
ed how 1t was that the hydrogen and
chlorine had not exploded when l was
passing through the storm. Why had
the lightning not been merciful enough
to hurry my death? ! could not &C
count for my escape, until l suddenly
remembered that In all probability the
stop-cock between the two gases In
the dumb-bell shaped glass had only
been turned just when the balloon was
sent on, In which case the cases
not have had time to diffuse properly
for explosion.
At the dawn of the day the deadly
work would be complete. The cues
ton now was this-how long had l
to live, and was there any possible
means Of escape? The action of the
drug had now nearly worn OF, and 1
was able to think with acuteness and
intelligence. l began to work the
cord between my wrists up and I'D be-
tween my palms until l could Just
reach 1t with my little finger, and by
supreme effort slipped 1t over my
ie1t hand. j could now move my
hands, although they were still tightly
tied together round the wrists. In
frantic despair began to tear at the
cords which bound them. Cutting
nard with my teeth, at last managed
to lfberate my hands, and then my
next intention was to unfasten the
horrible explosive from the plank.
But the glass vessel and tin canister
mad been secured round the plank by
means OF a chain which was dashed
In such fashion that by no possible
means could l undo it. / was free to
move, but the means of destruction
were still threatening me. How long
had / before the sun would rise? Even
now the light In Thea heavens was
getting stronger. What should do?
My hands were free, and could sit
up. managed to unite the cords
from my legs. And then, with many
slip and struggle, contrived to
Chamber up the network until I came
to the balloon itself, when I began
to tear at the silk with nails and teeth.
| wrought furiously, and made a small
hole in the silk This enlarged first
with my finger and then with nv
wh~'s hand, ripping away the silk till
| had made huge rent In the side of
the balloon. AS soon as this hap
pened l knew that the balloon would
slowly but surely begin to descend.
But how soon would the sun rise?
Perhaps in an hour, possibly sooner.
The explosive was so firmly secured
to the plank that there was no chance
of getting rid of it. My one chance of
life was to reach the ground before
the sun got up. If this did not hap
pen, would be blown to atoms. The
stars were already growing dim IN the
heavens, and sitting on the plank,
holding on to the meshes of the bal
loon. saw that the wind must have
changed, for instead of being blown
seaward, | had gone a considerable
ways inland. I could see objects
trees, villages, houses, beneath. Each
moment as gazed they assumed more
definite shape. Within a quarter of
an hour l saw that / was only about
six hundred feet from a large park,
into which l was descending. A gray,
pearly tint was now over everything,
and this. moment by moment, assumed |
a rose hue. / knew that in FIVE min |
utes the sun would rise, and striking |
its light across the glass vessel, hurl |
me into eternity. In an agony of mind
once more considered the situation.
In this fearful race between the sun
and me, the sun must win unless l |
could do something-but what?
could not cover the glass from the
fatal light, for / was without my coat:
dare not try to break 1t. lest the |
blow might explode the nitroglycerine.
But suddenly thought flashed upon
me Though l could not unfasten the
iron chain which bound the Internal
machine to the plank, perhaps the
plank itself could be unshipped, OBJ
served that it was secured to the iron
hoop of the balloon by thick and
clumsy knots of rope. l swiftly worked
The chain along the plank till it and
the Internal machine had reached one
end. noticed that here the chain
was loose, as the plank was thinner.
Seating myself on the hoop and cling
ing to the meshes with one, hand. /
worked away at the knots with the
other. The last knot yielded. the
plank fell, hanging to the hoop at the
opposite side. AS it did so the infer.
nal machine slipped from the free end
and tumbled into space.
There was sudden flash and a
ieafeDing roar. In mid-air, as II fell.
he machine had exploded, for the sun
had just risen. The balloon descend
I'd steadily, and in few moments
more touched the branches of a large
elm tree. l was close enough to the
ground to jump and 1. did SC. The
balloon, relieved of my weight, shot
ip again and disappeared behind the
.rees.
AS good luck had It, the park in
which ! had landed belonged to the
estate Of Squire Ransom, a whole
'ouled, genial Cornishman, at whose
mansion / found a ready welcome.
Ransom was a magistrate, and on
hearing my story. telegraphed the
London authorities, with the result
hat police were sent to Levin castle.
On their arrival there they found a