Part 28 (1/2)

”What I can't understand,” said Fenn, ”is what become of those cords.

They must be on the balloon. I saw them the first day.”

”Suppose we take another look,” suggested Ned. ”I don't fancy staying here all night.”

”If we don't find 'em I'm going to climb up and poke a hole in the bag,”

declared Stumpy.

The boys took their positions one on each side of the big basket and began staring aloft, through the mist, for a sight of the cords. There was such a maze of ropes and netting that it was hard to distinguish anything. The mist too, bothered them.

There came a little puff of wind which made the big balloon sway so that the boys clutched the sides of the willow car. There was a peculiar sensation as though the bottom of their stomachs had dropped out.

”We're going down!” cried Bart.

The mist seemed to break away. The bag could be plainly seen. Hurriedly Bart tore up some more sc.r.a.ps of paper and tossed them over. They remained stationary an instant and then began to settle earthward.

”False alarm,” said Bart with despair in his voice.

But they had gone down a few feet, or else the mist had lifted, for they were no longer in the cloud. They could see nothing of the earth, however.

All at once Fenn who had resumed his upward-gazing gave a cry.

”What is it, Stumpy?” called Bart.

”The cords! The cords! I see them!” the boy exclaimed.

”Where?” and they all came around to his side.

”There, right near where the mouth of the bag is fastened to the cordage. Don't you see them?”

”Sure enough! There they are!” exclaimed Bart.

Then the others beheld the brown and red cords that connected, one with the valve in the top, and the other with the strip, to be ripped out, in case of emergency.

”We can't reach 'em,” said Ned. ”They're ten feet up.”

This was so. The ends of the cords had, in some way, been caught in the netting and were held at least ten feet above the edge of the basket. To reach them meant a dizzy and dangerous climb.

Stumpy looked first from one side of the basket and then from the other, at the cords that meant so much to them. He took off his coat and vest and began removing his shoes.

”What are you going to do?” asked Bart.

”I'm going to get those cords down where we can reach 'em,” said Fenn shortly.

”How? You can't!”

”You watch me! Didn't I take the prize at school for high trapeze work?”

and Stumpy went on unlacing his shoes.

”Are you going to climb up in that cordage?” demanded Ned.