Part 26 (1/2)

By the time they had been elevated five hundred feet they were accustomed to the strange and peculiar sensation. They were no longer frightened, and when they had gone up as far as the cable would let them they were almost wis.h.i.+ng the journey was twice as long. As the manager had said, the country was spread out under them like a big relief map. They could recognize some buildings in town, and also pick out other hamlets surrounding Darewell. Bart even declared he could see the clearing where Sandy had stood on guard, and where the men had been observed acting so strangely that day, but the others were not able to make it out.

At the end of ten minutes the balloon was hauled down. The boys climbed from the basket, trying to answer the scores of questions that were asked of them by persons in the crowd. After that many made trips in the captive airs.h.i.+p.

”It was great,” declared Bart.

”I almost wish it had gotten loose,” said Ned. ”I'd like to take a long trip.”

”We'll try it again to-morrow,” said Bart, ”only don't you go wis.h.i.+ng it would break loose, Ned. It might happen, you know.”

”That wire cable couldn't break.”

”All right. I don't want it to.”

For a long while the boys remained to watch the balloon go up and down with the scores who ventured in it. Then, as there were many other things to see at the fair, they made a tour of the grounds.

They were on hand the next day, and made another trip in the balloon.

This time it was a little foggy and they could not see so well.

”Half price to-morrow boys,” remarked the manager, as they came down.

”It's the last day.”

”We'll have to take it in,” declared Fenn. ”Can't miss a bargain like that.”

So great an attraction did the reduced rate prove that it was afternoon of the last day of the fair before the four chums had a chance to go up in the balloon again. Once more they got into the big basket. The captive airs.h.i.+p had been freshly filled with gas and was pulling and tugging at the restraining cable as though it wanted to be free.

”Let her go,” called the manager, and for the third time the boys saw the earth dropping away beneath them. They could not get over that first queer sinking feeling in the stomach as the balloon first started skyward, but, after it had gone up a few hundred feet they were used to it.

The day was a wonderfully clear one, and the boys could see for miles in every direction. Off to the northwest Lake Erie sparkled in the sunlight, and the Still river looked like a band of silver laid between green banks and through dark green forests.

”Isn't it fine!” exclaimed Frank. ”I wish we could stay up all night.”

”I guess we're going down,” remarked Ned, as there came a tug at the bottom of the basket where the cable was fastened.

The balloon gave a little jerk and swayed from side to side. The boys clutched the edge of the basket and looked over.

”Something has happened!” cried Ned.

They could see the crowd running to and fro and a number of men signaling to them with their hands.

”What could have happened?” asked Frank. ”Is the balloon on fire?”

”No! It's broken loose!” yelled Fenn. ”See! The cable is dangling below us!”

Leaning over as far as they dared, the others saw that the wire rope had become loosened from the drum and was swaying about in the air. It had become unfastened when the machinery began to revolve to haul the balloon down.

”We're loose! We're going up!” almost screamed Fenn.

Down below them the earth once more was dropping away at a fearful rate.

The freshly-filled balloon was shooting skyward faster than ever before, since there was no restraining cable to hold it back.