"I'd like to go up in an airship, and I intend
to some day."
"I believe he's going to jump!" suddenly exclaimed Ned after a few
minutes. "He's going to do something, anyhow."
"Probably come down in a parachute," said Tom. "They generally do
that."
"No! No!" cried Ned. "He isn't going to jump. Something has
happened! The balloon is on fire! He'll be burned to death!"
Horror stricken, they all gazed aloft. From the mouth of the
balloon there shot a tongue of fire, and it was followed by a
cloud of black smoke. The big bag was getting smaller and seemed
to be descending, while the man on the trapeze was hanging
downward by his hands to get as far as possible away from the
terrible heat.
CHAPTER XXII
THE RESCUE
"Jump! Jump!" cried Mr. Swift, leaping to his feet and motioning
to the man on the trapeze of the balloon. But it is doubtful
whether or not the performer heard him. Certainly he could not
see the frantic motions of the inventor. "Why doesn't he jump?"
Mr. Swift went on piteously to the two lads. "He'll surely be
burned to death if he hangs on there!"
"It's too far to leap!" exclaimed Tom. "He's a good way up in the
air, though it looks like only a short distance. He would be
killed if he dropped now.
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