"But this black?"
"We may, perhaps, save our anchor--and I hold a
great deal by that. There'll always be time enough to
cut loose."
The sorcerer, having climbed to the right place, worked
so vigorously that he succeeded in detaching the anchor,
and the latter, violently jerked, at that moment, by the
start of the balloon, caught the rascal between the limbs,
and carried him off astride of it through the air.
The stupefaction of the crowd was indescribable as
they saw one of their waganga thus whirled away into
space.
"Huzza!" roared Joe, as the balloon--thanks to its
ascensional force--shot up higher into the sky, with
increased rapidity.
"He holds on well," said Kennedy; "a little trip will
do him good."
"Shall we let this darky drop all at once?" inquired Joe.
"Oh no," replied the doctor, "we'll let him down
easily; and I warrant me that, after such an adventure,
the power of the wizard will be enormously enhanced in
the sight of his comrades."
"Why, I wouldn't put it past them to make a god of
him!" said Joe, with a laugh.
The Victoria, by this time, had risen to the height of
one thousand feet, and the black hung to the rope with
desperate energy. He had become completely silent, and
his eyes were fixed, for his terror was blended with
amazement.
Pages:
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162