Let us lighten her. That is the
only help. So let us throw out every thing we can spare."
"But what shall it be?" said the hunter, looking at
the car, which was already quite bare.
"Well, let us get rid of the awning, for its weight is
quite considerable."
Joe, who was interested in this order, climbed up on
the circle which kept together the cordage of the network,
and from that place easily managed to detach the heavy
curtains of the awning and throw them overboard.
"There's something that will gladden the hearts of a
whole tribe of blacks," said he; "there's enough to dress
a thousand of them, for they're not very extravagant with
cloth."
The balloon had risen a little, but it soon became evident
that it was again approaching the ground.
"Let us alight," suggested Kennedy, "and see what
can be done with the covering of the balloon."
"I tell you, again, Dick, that we have no means of repairing it."
"Then what shall we do?"
"We'll have to sacrifice every thing not absolutely indispensable;
I am anxious, at all hazards, to avoid a detention in these
regions. The forests over the tops of which we are skimming are
any thing but safe."
"What! are there lions in them, or hyenas?" asked
Joe, with an expression of sovereign contempt.
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