But, just as he
was about to grasp the ring and cord the smoke came swirling down
on him and the hungry flames seemed to put out their fiery tongues
to devour him. He had to slide back and once more hung by his
hands.
"I thought he was saved then," whispered Tom, and even the whisper
sounded loud in the silence.
Several men came running along the shore of the lake now. They
saw the occupants in the ARROW and cried out:
"Why don't you save him? Go to his rescue!"
"What can we do?" asked Ned quietly of his two friends, but he did
not trouble to answer the men on shore, who probably did not know
what they were saying.
The motor-boat had drifted from a spot under the unfortunate
balloonist, and at a word from his father the young inventor
started the engine and steered the craft back directly under the
blazing bag again.
"If he does drop, perhaps we may be able to pick him up," said Mr.
Swift. "I wish we could save him!"
A cry from Ned startled Tom and his father, and their eyes, that
had momentarily been directed away from the burning bag high in
the air, were again turned toward it.
"The balloon is falling apart!" exclaimed Ned. "It's all up with
him now!"
Indeed it did seem so, for pieces of the burning canvas, blazing
and smoking, were falling in a shower from the part of the bag
already consumed, and the fiery particles were fairly raining down
on the man.
Pages:
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170