hip, while the balloon itself appeared threatened with instant dissolution, those eddying currents growin

iant trees being whirled upward and outward, each moment menacing the vessel with total des

n an apparently unending shower, only with reversed motion,

e fate-tossed voyagers could only cling fast to the hand-rail

afening crash and uproar, and little wonder if they

acle, and then, while the din was a bit less deafening, Professor Featherwit

ge, I fancy! It's

gave another mad plunge to renew the battle, bringing on a repet

else rose higher in partial defeat, for their progr

of the heavens far above, and, as all eyes turned instin

I thought-how lon

tively affirmed his brother. "Don't tell me!

tness, Professor Featherwit gave a cry of dismay, while hurriedly moving to and fro in the

ing to his knees in natural anxiety. "Surely

losing for ever-the camera, boys;

the instrument upon whose aid he relied to place upon record these marvellous facts, so that all mankind might see and have full faith

's very soul!" mourned the professor, throwing up his hands, and sinking back to t

ll the ruling passion with both; but once more they were called upon to do battle with the swaying o

nature, and, with a visible effort putting his great loss

selves, I mean,-and surely it is not too much to hope for eventual escape?" he said

d around them upon those furiously boiling clouds, then cast an

aldo, with disagreeable bluntness. "It can't go on fo

ints, my dear boys," the professor made reply. "I only wish I could

n!" cried the brother

face wearing an expression of blended regret and unbounded affection

brothers, and forced to leave

we were left without parents, home, fortune? Only for you, tak

ass, then, but I must say that I do

eyes giving pledges of love and undying confidence; then Pro

allacy which has never met with contradi

s-what, unc

n. "You see that we are floating in a partial vacuum, yet where there is air sufficient to preserve life u

st above a bed of ugly wind!" declar

solid enough to sustain far more than our combined weight

n't know how," frank

ed whole libraries concerning these storm formations, but whose fallacies we are now fully

ounded, and trotted off on his hobby-horse in blissful pride, paying no attention to the hid

ontact with the earth, that hollow is caused by a constant suction, through which a steady stream of debris

pward through those walls themselves, yet far enough from that hollow interior to be but indistinctl

at very phenomena through all, and now he gave a queer little ch

might be done, and that with no

not try it

queried Bruno. "It would be suicidal to make

t destructive storm, could be seen a brace of buzzards floati

t like those turkey-buzzards! I wish-well, I do suppose they're about the nastiest varmin

nt, for he was fumbling in the locker, then withdrew his hand

sor Phaeton flung hook and cork into those circling currents, only to have the whole je

his hand, but the professor chuckled like one delighted

if the worst should come to pa

upon them once more, and again the supply of natural air was shut off, while their ves

led beings, who surely must have perished, as they lay pinned fast to the floor of the aerostat by tha

gasping and shivering, as they lay side by side, barely conscious that life li

first to rally, and his voice was about the first thing di

ying, in earnest tones. "I believe there is a method of esca

orse than this!" hu

out o' here!" supplemented Wald

avely warned the professor. "Bear that in mind, dear boys.

death would be a mercy-then! And I'd risk anything, everythin

ifting himself to both knees as he added: "Tell

than usual as they rested upon one face after the other, for

knot a strong trail-rope to a heavy iron grapnel, leaving the other

ys!" he warned, then added: "Heaven be kind t

el into that mass of boiling vapour, then fell