And here he is."
Alan looked at Ned. Both boys were puzzled. A few moment's talk
with Russell explained the whole situation. The balloon was ready
and the relief expedition was undoubtedly now in camp awaiting them.
It needed only the words and they would be off with the inquisitive
reporter left safely behind. And yet the word did not come. Ned
and Alan stood looking at Bob, and the reporter gazed in turn at the
beautiful straining car. Bob's face was a study. He had now made
some return to Ned for possibly saving his own life, but none of the
boys was thinking of that. In Bob's fine young face was the longing
of a child. In Ned's and Alan's faces were the traces of boyish
sympathy.
The young aeronauts were very close to each other and all were
silent. Then Alan turned slowly to Ned and with a little quaver in
his voice whispered, "Shall we?"
Ned made no answer. A smile lit up his face and he sprang down the
little ladder into the engine cabin followed by his chum. Almost
instantly the trap door in the floor of the car dropped down. A
moment later three fifty-pound sacks of ballast tumbled through the
door to the ground beneath.
Pages:
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152