"Just the same,
it's always possible for accidents to happen, and so I'll have to
limit it to two passengers, although I'd like to take you all up."
"You and Bart go, Frank," said Billy. "Tom and I will come around
some other time, and then maybe we'll get a chance."
"Well, if you and Tom don't mind, I guess we will," said Frank,
and with the words he and Bart stepped into the car of the
balloon, followed by the observer.
"I'm afraid you'll find it rather tame," said the latter. "It's
not nearly as exciting as you might think when looking at it from
the ground."
By this time the balloon was fully inflated, and the observer gave
the sign to the man in charge of the windlass to let the big gas
bag rise. The windlass man released the brake on the big drum, and
the balloon shot upward with a speed that took the breath away
from the two passengers. Up they shot until they had attained an
altitude of about five hundred feet, after which the windlass man
checked their further progress.
The boys exclaimed aloud over the wonderful sight that met their
eyes. Mile upon mile the smiling Rhine countryside stretched away
on every side.
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