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All the principal people of the place were assembled; and when Monsieur Teclier entered, followed by the young Barclays, the gentlemen clapped their hands and cheered, and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs. After breakfast, the Sous Prefect proposed an adjournment into the drawing room; and now the voyagers each became the center of a knot of questioners as to the voyage.
"Lieutenant Desmaret of the Mobiles of Vienne, I beg to introduce you to " "No, sir," the officer said, passionately, "you introduce them to me, not me to them. The inferior rank is introduced to the superior." "I know perfectly well what I am doing, sir, and require no lesson from you," Monsieur Teclier said, quietly.
When they did so, they found that two or three gentlemen were leaning over them; while several peasants were endeavoring, under the direction of Monsieur Teclier, to hold the balloon which was thrashing the ground with great violence. "Thank God, you are all alive," one of the gentlemen said. A peasant now came running up, with some water.
I do not blame you for your choice. I will send a note at once to Monsieur Teclier who has charge of the balloon to say that you will accompany him. "Goodbye, lads, goodbye; you are fine young fellows, and your father has every right to be proud of you. Tell him so, from me." The boys rose, and bowed; but the general held out his hand, and shook theirs warmly.
"We have a fine night, or rather morning; the wind is northerly. I suppose this is your first ascent?" "Yes, indeed," Ralph said, "and I own I hope it will be the last. Have the dispatches arrived?" "No; I have the mail bags, but not the dispatches Hush! There are a horse's hoofs." A few minutes afterwards a railway official brought a note, which he delivered to Monsieur Teclier.
"Monsieur Teclier," he said, "do me the favor to introduce my brother and myself to this lieutenant of Mobiles, in due form." The matter had now become so serious that there was a dead hush in the room, while Monsieur Teclier advanced. He had once or twice already made a motion of coming forward, to take Ralph's part; but a motion from the latter had arrested him.
They did so, working silently and with difficulty; for the car was oscillating so greatly that they were obliged to hold on, by its side, not to be thrown out. The descent was less rapid than it had been, but was still sufficiently alarming. "Is there a chance?" Ralph said. "We shall get off with a shaking," Monsieur Teclier said. "The car is made of wicker work, and is as elastic as a ball.
"There," Ralph continued, "we are entirely becalmed. These clouds below do not move, nor do we." "You cannot tell that," Monsieur Teclier said. "We go in the same direction, and at the same speed, as the clouds. It is just as if you were in a boat, at night, upon a rapid stream.
"Yesterday, when the telegram from Teclier came saying that he had fallen in Belle Isle, had had a narrow escape of being driven into the sea, but had avoided that by running the risk of breaking his neck and mentioned that you were with him; and had, like himself, escaped with a few bruises, Tim went nearly out of his mind with joy. He has been cleaning his sword and accouterments, this morning.
They now begged to hear the details of the adventures but, at this moment, word was brought that steam was up, and the vessel ready to start; and as Monsieur Teclier was most anxious to get on, and as Percy was quite done up, Ralph was glad to seize the excuse, and to make his apologies for leaving at once.
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