第 35 页

before we started, looked like it but, now we are once up here, we

do not seem to move."

In another two minutes, they passed through the layer of clouds,

and the sun shone brightly upon them. They looked down on a sea of

white mist, without a break.

"There," Ralph continued, "we are entirely becalmed. These clouds

below do not move, nor do we."

"You cannot tell that," Monsieur Teclier said. "We go in the same

direction, and at the same speed, as the clouds. It is just as if

you were in a boat, at night, upon a rapid stream. If you could see

no banks, or other stationary objects, you might believe yourself

to be standing still; while you were being drifted forward, at the

rate of twenty miles an hour. We may be traveling, now, forty or

fifty miles an hour; and as I agree with you, as to the look of the

clouds before starting, I believe that we are doing so--or, at any

rate, that we are traveling fast--but in what direction, or at what

rate, I have no means, whatever, of knowing.

"Even if we found that we moved, relatively to the clouds below us,

that would only show that this upper current was somewhat different

from that below."

"But how are we to find out about it?" Percy asked.

"We must keep a sharp lookout for rifts in the clouds. If we could

get a peep of the earth, only for a minute, it would be sufficient

to tell us the direction and, to some extent, the speed at which we

are going."

The boys, in vain, hung over the side. The sea of clouds beneath

them changed, and swelled, and rolled its masses of vapor over each

other; as if a contest of some gigantic reptiles were going on with

them.

"There must be a great deal of wind, to account for these rapid

changes of form," Percy said, after a long silence. "Suppose you

see nothing of the earth? At what time will you begin to descend?"

"In five hours from the time of starting, at twenty-five miles an

hour--supposing that the wind holds north--we should fall south of

the Loire, somewhere between Orleans and Bourges. At eleven

o'clock, then, I will let out gas; and go down below the clouds, to

see whereabouts we are. If we cannot recognize the country, or see

any river which may guide us, we shall at least see our direction

and rate of movement; and can either throw out more newspapers, and

keep on for awhile, or descend at once."

It was just ten o'clock, when Ralph gave a sudden cry.

"The sea!" he said; "the sea!"

"Impossible," Monsieur Teclier said, hanging over the side; "I can

see nothing."

"Nor can I, now," Ralph said; "but I caught a glimpse, just now,

and I will almost swear to its being the sea--though how we could

get there, I don't know."

"If it is," the aeronaut said, "the wind must be blowing half a

gale, up here; and must have changed entirely, either to the west

or south. It is too serious to hesitate; we must find out if your

eyes have not deceived you."

So saying, he pulled the valve.

"Keep a sharp lookout, and look at the compass."

"There, there!" the boys cried, as the clouds opened again, for an

instant. "It is the sea, and we are going west."

"Then we are over the Atlantic," Monsieur Teclier said.

The gas was roaring from the valve above, and the balloon sank

rapidly into the stratum of clouds. For a minute, all was silent;

and then a cry broke from them all. They were a considerable

distance from the coast, and were driving along with great

rapidity. Immediately under the balloon was an island, of no great

size and, beyond that, no land whatever was visible.

"We must descend on that island, or we are lost. It is our only

chance."

The valve was still open; and its influence was easily seen, for

the balloon sank rapidly down through the opening of the clouds.

"We shan't be down in time," the boys exclaimed, simultaneously.

It was but too evident. The balloon, when the first general view of

the situation had been obtained, was fully a mile high; and was

traveling seaward at the rate of thirty miles an hour. The island,

at the point at which they were crossing, was about three miles

wide; but they had passed fully half a mile over it, before they

obtained a fair view. In five minutes, therefore, they would be

beyond the land again; and they had to fall a mile, in that time.

"Cut the balloon to pieces," Monsieur Teclier said. "Tear it up. We

must risk everything."

The boys seized the silk, tore, and hacked at it; as did the

aeronaut. In two minutes, a vast quantity of gas had escaped from

the rents, and the silk was doubled up near the top of the net.

Illustration: The Sea! The Sea!

"That will do," Monsieur Teclier said. "We shall be down in time,

now."

The boys looked over the car and, accustomed as they had been to

face danger, were appalled.

"It is all up with us, this time," Ralph said; "we shall he

smashed, altogether."

"No," the aeronaut exclaimed, "the silk is acting as a parachute,

now, and checking the descent. Now, help me to throw out all the

bundles."

They did so, working silently and with difficulty; for the car was

oscillating so greatly that they were obliged to hold on, by its

side, not to be thrown out. The descent was less rapid than it had

been, but was still sufficiently alarming.

"Is there a chance?" Ralph said.

"We shall get off with a shaking," Monsieur Teclier said. "The car

is made of wicker work, and is as elastic as a ball. Drop the

grapnel, now; in another minute, we shall be within holding

distance."

As the balloon neared the ground, the oscillation became less

violent, and the pace diminished.

"The grapnel is on the ground," Percy said, looking over.

"Hold tight, hold tight," Monsieur Teclier said, warningly. "We

shall catch fast on to those trees."

There was a tearing and rending, a series of tremendous jerks, and

then a bump against the ground; which threw them all into the

bottom of the car, from which the next jerk threw them out on to

the ground. Fortunately the ground was even, and the soil had

lately been plowed; but the shock was so violent that it was some

minutes before either of the boys recovered consciousness. When

they did so, they found that two or three gentlemen were leaning

over them; while several peasants were endeavoring, under the

direction of Monsieur Teclier, to hold the balloon--which was

thrashing the ground with great violence.

"Thank God, you are all alive," one of the gentlemen said.

A peasant now came running up, with some water. The gentleman who

had spoken dashed a little in their faces.

"I do not think any of your limbs are broken," he said. "Do you

feel any pain?"

"I feel sore and bruised, all over," Ralph said, getting up with

some assistance; "but I don't think that anything serious is the

matter.

"How are you, Percy?"

"I don't think I am hurt seriously, Ralph; but I would rather lie

still, for the present."

Ralph explained to the gentleman--who again leaned over Percy, and

felt his pulse--that his brother had been recently ill, and was

still weak.

"Ah, that accounts for it," the gentleman said. "I do not think

that he is seriously hurt. I am a doctor; and was luckily out

riding with these gentlemen, when we happened to look up and saw

your balloon falling, like a stone, from the clouds. We thought at

first that you must be dashed to pieces; but when we saw that the

speed was being a little checked, we had some hope, and galloped in

the direction in which it was falling. We were within five hundred

yards when you fell, but we hardly expected to see anyone alive.

"Do not try to move," he said to Percy. "We sent a man for a

vehicle, and a few necessaries, before we set off ourselves."

"Where have we fallen?" Ralph asked. "We were astonished to find

ourselves over the sea, for the wind was north when we started."

"You have fallen upon Belle Isle," the gentleman said, "so the wind

must have changed materially, since you started."

Monsieur Teclier now came up.

"I must really congratulate you both," he said to Ralph, "upon your

coolness and presence of mind, in a very frightful position. The

oldest aeronaut could not have shown more nerve."

"You see," Ralph said, "we have been pretty often in danger, now;

and although the sort of danger was new, the degree of danger was

not."

The gentlemen smiled a little, as Ralph spoke. The Barclays had

come out in plain clothes, bringing their uniform in the balloon

for, in the event of the balloon having fallen among the Germans,

it was of course essential that they should be able to get off,

unobserved. They therefore looked mere lads; and their talk, of

having passed through as great a danger as that which had just made

the spectators of it feel faint and sick only to witness, appeared

to be a mere bit of exaggerated braggadocio.

A light cart now arrived, in which some mattresses had been laid;

some bandages, and other surgical necessaries had also been added,

together with a bottle of brandy.

"Fortunately we do not want any of these, except the brandy," the

surgeon said. "A little of that will do you all good.

"Now a few strips of plaster,"--this was to Monsieur Teclier, whose

face was cut a good deal--"and then you will do, till you get to

the town."

The three voyagers were now helped into the cart; for they were all

very stiff and greatly shaken, and were glad to stretch themselves

out on the mattresses, covered over with blankets, until they

reached the little town. Here they were met by the whole

population, cheering lustily. Another wagon had been sent off for

the balloon; and a number of people now set out to search for the

bags of dispatches, etc. which had been thrown out during the last

part of the descent. The Sous Prefect at the island placed his

house at once at their disposal. But they said that they would

rather go to a hotel, first, and take a hot bath--which the doctor

recommended them--but should be very happy to breakfast with him,

after that. Before going to the hotel, however, Monsieur Teclier

sent off a dispatch to Tours; saying that he had arrived at Belle

Isle with news from Paris, at a quarter to seven; and that, at that

time, everything was going on well.

He next inquired as to means of reaching the mainland. The wind was

dead off shore, and a sailing vessel would have taken a long time

to make the passage. However, there was a small steamer in harbor;

and the Sous Prefect took upon himself to engage that the fires

should be lighted, at once, and that they should cross in two or

three hours.

After reaching the hotel they were examined carefully by the

surgeon; who pronounced that no harm, whatever, had been done to

them, and that they had escaped with a few contusions, and a good

shaking.

The breakfast was quite an ovation. All the principal people of the

place were assembled; and when Monsieur Teclier entered, followed

by the young Barclays, the gentlemen clapped their hands and

cheered, and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs. After breakfast,

the Sous Prefect proposed an adjournment into the drawing room; and

now the voyagers each became the center of a knot of questioners as

to the voyage.

Monsieur Teclier--as was natural--conversed with the Sous Prefect

and other leading men of the town, while their wives and daughters

gathered round the lads. Ralph had given his name as Barclay, and

had stated that Percy was his brother; but he had said nothing as

to their being in the army, as he wished to avoid the oft-repeated

tale which the declaration of his rank was sure to necessitate. He

had even said a word to Monsieur Teclier, begging him to say the

Messieurs Barclay, instead of Captains Barclay--unless, of course,

he were actually questioned upon the matter. Percy was allowed to

sit in an easy chair, unmolested--for he was quite done up--and

Ralph talked for both, relating many details of their journey from

Paris; and the ladies examined him most minutely as to his

sensation, and especially whether he was not horribly frightened.

Among those standing in a group round the young Barclays was a

lieutenant of Mobiles; who evidently by no means approved of the

attention, and interest which they excited among the ladies; and

who had made several sarcastic remarks, during the course of the

narrative. Presently a servant came in and, walking up to Monsieur

Teclier, said that two swords had been picked up; had they fallen

from the balloon?

"Yes," Monsieur Teclier said, "they belong to those gentlemen."

The servant came up to Ralph, and told him that the swords had been

picked up. Ralph at once drew out a five-franc piece, and asked the

servant to give it to the man who had found them.

"Ah," said the officer of Mobiles, with a scarcely concealed sneer,

"so you have come out from Paris to serve? I should have imagined

that there were plenty of opportunities to distinguish yourselves,

there. However, you must have had good interest, to get places in a

balloon."

"We have fair interest," Ralph said calmly, "as apparently you

have, yourself. Each of us have, you see, used our interest in the

way most pleasing to us. We have used ours to enable us to go with

the army in the field, instead of being forced to remain inactive

in Paris. You, upon your part, have used yours to get away from the

army in the field, and to remain inactive, here."

These words were spoken with such an air of boyish frankness, and

an apparent innocence of any desire to say anything unpleasant,