Part 25 (2/2)
”Is there much danger in a captive balloon?” asked Ned.
”Hardly any. In fact none to speak of,” was the answer. ”We've got a tested wire cable. It winds over a drum and when the drum is turned it winds the cable up and the balloon comes down.”
”I guess we'll risk it,” said Ned. ”Eh, fellows.”
”You can't leave me behind,” said Bart, and the others agreed they would take a chance in the balloon.
All this while the big bag had been filling. The man and several others who were a.s.sisting, kept hooking the ballast lower in the cordage loops as the balloon arose in the air. It was over half full now.
The boys took a look at the square basket, or car, that was to be attached to the airs.h.i.+p, and at the windla.s.s which brought the captive balloon back to earth.
”Let's go home and get breakfast and come back,” suggested Bart, as the boys had arisen early that morning. ”We'll take the trip this afternoon.”
The boys returned to the grounds about nine o'clock. It was after ten o'clock before the first ascension was made. Four young men from town went up, that being all the car would hold. The manager cautioned them about touching the cords and then, while the anxious throng watched and waited, the cable began to unwind and the balloon went up.
”That looks easy enough,” declared Bart. ”Us for the trip next time.”
Up and up the balloon went until it looked about the size of an apple.
It remained up about ten minutes and then the windla.s.s was turned by the steam engine, which was part of the outfit, and the airs.h.i.+p came slowly down.
”How'd you like it?” asked the manager as the young men got out.
”Fine!” they exclaimed as one. ”It was great. I could see clear to Woodport.”
”Now who's going to be the next?” asked the manager in his professional voice. ”Try a trip in the airs.h.i.+p! View the earth spread out like a map beneath you, the fields mere patches of green, the river a silver ribbon and the forest a mere bit of fuzz like the wool on Mary's little lamb.
Who's next?”
”We are!” cried Bart, and he and his chums paid their money and took their places in the basket.
”Let her go,” cried the manager, and the boys, looking over the edge of the car, saw the earth dropping away below them.
CHAPTER XXIII
ABOVE THE CLOUDS
”What's the matter?” called Fenn, his voice trembling a little.
”The matter with what?” asked Bart, whose tones were not overly strong just then.
”Why we seem to be standing still and the earth is going down.”
”That's always the way in a balloon, I've read,” spoke Frank. ”We can't see ourselves move as there's nothing to judge it by. You can't see the air, and that's what we're moving through.”
”Well, it's a little more scary than I thought it was,” came from Ned.
”Still I guess we can get used to it.”
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