Therefore, as soon as the engine stopped, the Cibola would mount
higher. But resourceful Ned had long since thought out this
problem.
The engine's speed was reduced and the anchor was quickly lowered
until it caught hard and fast in a strong pine tree. The contact
shook the fragile car and sent the bag bounding, but when it was
seen that the iron had fixed itself firmly three of the boys,
pulling on the anchor rope, gradually drew the great buoyant car
down until it floated just above the tree top. To drag it lower
was, impossible, for one sharp branch might injure the bag beyond
repair.
When the ship was safely anchored just above the tree, the
twenty-five foot landing ladder was lowered and Ned himself made his
way down its fragile rungs into the tree. .
"Hold on tight," he continued, "I'm getting off."
As he did so and found footing in the tree branches the Cibola
tugged to free itself, as if, overjoyed to be rid of Ned's one
hundred and forty-five pounds of weight. As soon as the young
commander was safely on the ground he ordered the other boys to pay
out the anchor rope and again the Cibola rose in the air.
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