Frank Reade Library No. 73: Six Weeks in the Clouds — page 10: what you’re looking at

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10 ‘Tt won’t do for you to come too near us!” ‘¢ T see that!” replied Frank. ‘‘ We will find some other way.” Being so near, fora few moments arunning conversation was kept up. ‘s How are you all?” shouted Warden. ‘‘’We are all well as could be expected under the circumstances,” replied Charles Allen, ** but we are anxious to get down upon terra firma ” ‘“ You don’t like living in space then?” ‘* Well, not exactly.” ‘¢ Don’t you wish you had taken my advice and married in the old fashioned way?” ‘* T’ll tell you better after we get out of this scrape,” replied young Allen, laughingly. ‘‘ This is certainly the most romantic wedding I ever officiated at!” cried the Rev. Schuyler Wall. ‘¢ You will not try another?” ‘¢T think not.” *¢T don’t think they ought to complain,” protested Prof. Digby. ¢¢ They have not been killed yet.” ‘¢ No thanks to your faultily constructed balloon!” cried Hattie. This caused a laugh. ‘¢ Well, have you suffered from cold?” asked Frank Reade, Jr. ‘* Not much!” replied Rev. Mr. Wall, ‘* but I would like a little more room for my cramped limhs.” ‘s How are you fixed for provisions?” ‘¢ KHnough for another week!” ‘¢There!” declared Frank to Warden, have proved groundless!” ‘¢ Ah, but in time they might have come to pass.” ‘“‘ Fortunately we are in time to relieve them of the risk,” rejoined Frank. ‘' Now, friecds,” he shouted, ‘Iam going to send a man aboard of you.” ‘* All right,” replied Prof. Digby. ‘“¢] shall mount toa position above the balloon. man down on a rope and swing him into the busket.” “All right!” This was certainly the only feasible way of making connections with the balloon. All this while the rain had been dripping on the air-ship’s deck and over all. ‘¢ Now, Barney,” said Frank, ‘‘do you want to attempt that feat? If you do not I will.” The Celt gave a leap in the air and threw up his cap. ‘« Shure, gor,’ ’ he cried, ‘ it’s mightily honored I am at the chance. Shure, I'll go down aisy.” “All right!” agreed Frank. ‘‘ Fetch out a rope.” Pomp proceeded to do this. A long rope was coiled upon the air- ship’s deck. A slip noose was placed under Barney’s arms. Then he went over the rail. Down he went, slowly lowered by those on the deck of the air-ship. The balloonists watched the operation anxiously. Down until on a level with the car of the balioon Barney was swung. Then he hung in space, swinging to and fro. Fully a mile avove the earth and depending upon the single rope. What if it should break? It was too horrible a thing to contemplate. distance to the earth would be frightful. Bat Barney never once thought of danger. His nerves were as cool and steady as ateel. laughing mood. ‘¢ Shure, I’m loike the pendulum av Father Mickey’s clock!” he cried. ‘‘Give me a long swing now!” And this was done. Gradually swinging backward and forward the Celt finally was able to grab the ropes of the balloon. A moment more and he had slid down into the basket. nection so much desired was made. A cheer went up from the lips of all. Warden was beside himself with joy. Another rope was speedily lowered. This wag to bring up the aeronauts one by one to the air- ship’s deck. Hattie was the first one to essay this trip. The rope was fastened under her arms, and she was swung out into space. She was extremely plucky, and did not even scream out. Pomp and Warden pulled on the rope, while Frank kept the air-ship steacy. Up and aboard the Thunderbolt the voung bride was safely hoisted. Then she was clasped in her father’s arms. Sylvester Warden was the happiest man in the world at that mo- ment. Indeed, 80 overcome was he that he forgot apparently the existence of the others, and it was only when Pomp called him that he returned to & proper realization of the situation. ‘* 1 done fink we bettah pull up de oders!”’ cried the darky. ‘If yo jes’ gib me a hand, aah!” In a moment Warden was by his side. ‘‘Pardon me!” he cried. ‘‘ I am beside myself. forget the peril of others.” Down went the rope. Barney caught it, and this time the Rev. Schuyler Wall was the upward passsenger. He made the trip safely, and then it came Charlie’s turn. turned to the aeronaut—Prof., Digby—and said: “ You shall go first, sir!’ ‘‘vour fears of starvation ‘* How will you do it?” ‘¢] will send a To be dashed such a He was even ina The con- But I must not But he SIX WEEKS IN THE CLOUDS. The balloon, lightened of some of its load, had begun to rise. But gon sent the air-ship up higher. Prof. Digby was quickly swung on board. All this while air-ship and balloon had been drifting rapidly into dense clouds. Also a sudden rioutous wind had arisen. Now before either Char- lie or Barney could make the upward trip there came a tremendous strain upon the ropes. The balloon, relieved of some of its load, had grown livefy, and the sudden burat of wind caused the ropes tu stretch. Frank increased the speed of the propeller, but it was too late. A terrific gale arose in what seemed a second of time, the ropes snapped, aod the last seen of the balloon it was being whirled away through space like a feather. Into the black clouds it went, and was lost to view. Cries of dismay arose from the lips of all aboard the air-ship. as Mercy!” cried Pref. Digby, ** they are lost. We will never find them!” ‘* Yes, we will?” shouted Frank, resolutely, putting on all speed. The air-ship shot forward rapidly. Into the clouds in pursuit of the balloon it went, other case of looking for a needle in a haystack. The balloon was doubtless miles away, and in what direction it had been carried it was impotsible to say. Bat still Frank kept on in pursuit. quest was kept up. It was a most dismaying turn of affairs. Part of the aeronout’s party were rescued, to besure. But Barney, Frank Reade, Jr’s, valuable man, and Cuarlie Allen, the bridegroom, were yet lost in the clouds, ‘There ig no likelihood of starting for home this week!” declared Frank, gloomily. ‘‘ Certainly, I am nov going, and leave those two men behind.” Hattie, or Mrs. Allen was distraught at the fate of her husband. She wrung her hands and wept bitterly. The Rev. Schuyler Wall was perhaps the calmest of any. cheering words, and said: ‘‘The Lord will bring all out right yet. patience.” But the Gays passed, and still the air-ship sailed vaguely through the clouds. Not a sign of the balloon had been discovered in all this while, ‘‘ Four weeks to-day!” said Frank Reade, Jr., one morning. ‘‘ We nang Wen much longer in this quest than I had believed that we would.” Warden was thoughtful for a moment. finally, he said: ‘“«T have an idea, Frank!” Ah!” exclaimed the voung inventor, ‘‘ what is it?” Warden led Frank to the rail and looking over pcinted to the cloud banks below. Then he proceeded tu expound his new theory, while Frank listened. But it was ane Until darkness shut down the He spoke Let us have hope and When he lifted his head CHAPTER IX. WARDEN’S THEORY. ‘‘ My theory embraces the dispensing of those clouds,” said Warder. ‘‘Tt may seem to you as absard and impossible.” ‘¢ Perhaps not,” replied Frank. ‘‘ Pray what may it be?” ‘¢ Well, you have no doubt heard of the rain making experiments made in New Mexico awhile ago?” ‘* What, the use of explosives in upper stratums of the atmos- phere?” *¢ Just so.” ** Well, what of it?” An inkling of Warden’s scheme now began to dawn upon Frank. The other rubbed his hands briskly and went on. ‘‘] believe that it is possible for us to dispel these clouds in the Same manner.” ‘¢ With explosives?” ‘6 Yes!” ‘What is your theory of the effect?” ‘¢ The concussion will induce precipitation. The clouds will fall to the earth in the shape of rain, and in due course of time the atinog- phere should be cleared.” Frank whistled softly. Then he laughed. ‘‘ You would drown out the region beneath us,” he declared; inhabitants would believe it a second deluge.” ‘‘Hang the inhabitants! They are not of the class we are bound to respect!” ‘*T can see but one obstacle to your plan,” said Frank. “ Ah!” ‘Tt is a very large one.” ‘¢ What is it?” ‘‘Suppose we use explosives. It has been demonstrated that, exploded in aclear sky, the concussion will draw clouds from an invisible source and precipitate rain.” ‘* Well?” ‘* Now if we try to dispel these clouds in that manner, wky shall we not be drawing more, perhaps an unlimited amount? We might get more than we bargained for.” Warden’s face fell. He saw the point of Frank’s argument. to abandon his scheme. ‘the Yet he was not disposed COMnICOOO S$ 5(CO) an =)