A Silver Brand — page 154: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

146 A SILVER BRAND. it gently, put his fingers to the pulse, and found it leaping madly. He reached down quietly to the basket, took out a vial, and poured a few drops into the little cup, and gave it to her. She swallowed it obediently. “ Now close your eyes and rest alittle. The change of air and the excitement may well disturb you. it will pass shortly.” He was right. In a brief time she opened her eyes, smiled upon him tranquilly, and said : ‘“T am better. I think we must be much nearer the earth, for the atmosphere seems natural again. How long before we must descend ?” He had been fumbling over his apparatus, and had the loving fraulein been there she would have seen that the smile he had assumed, when he turned his face toward her, was an anxious and troubled one. “T am thankful that you are better, madam. About the descent, you know for your sake, I preferred to remain “up until dark, unless indeed I can land in some safe and obscure place. Balloons are not yet so common but that the landing of one draws a large crowd. I wish you hada hat and vail. Your face is too remarkable to pass un- noticed.” ‘“‘T can wrap my scarf about it,” began she, but paused abruptly to catch hold of the edge of the car, which began to rock to and fro, while the balloon above oscillated still more violently. The eronaut sprang up, caught hold of the ropes and swung himself up to the great globe, from which came a low, hissing noise. He was busy there fas- tening his silk handkerchief somehow for a few brief sec- -onds. Then he came clambering down again, and seated himself once more in the narrow quarters. ‘‘Anything wrong?” she asked, aware at length that his face was paler than it had been before. “There is a rent in the balloon; the gas is escaping, but so slowly I hope it will not disturb us. If only we could catch another current of air!” he muttered, uneasily. “We are directly over the river. How wide and deep it looks! It is well, indeed, you hold such skillful authority over this wonderful steed !” she returned. : He gnawed impatiently at his lip, and though his atten- tion all seemed to be given below, every nerve was strained to catch the slightest sound from above. Full soon he heard the signal he had been dreading. A quick, sharp tear and again the car rocked dangerously. “Hold on, madam, and try to be courageous. I can no ag Gomichbooks:.co