60 IN AFRICA 



Lawrence, who had charge of the ascension, was ap- 

 prehensive. He feared to fill the balloon to its ca- 

 pacity lest the expansion of the gas due to the hot 

 sun should explode it. 



At half past three the basket was attached and it 

 looked small about the size of a large bushel bas- 

 ket, three feet in diameter and three feet deep. The 

 balloon, heavily laden with sand-bags, was lightened 

 until it could almost rise, and in this condition was 

 led across to an open spot sufficiently far from the 

 nearest trees. The crowd thronged up pop-eyed 

 and quivering with excitement. Then there was a 

 long wait until the wind had died down a bit, which 

 it did after a while. The eventful moment had ar- 

 rived, and Mr. Stephenson, of our party, climbed 

 into the basket. He is only six feet five inches in 

 height and weighs only two hundred and thirty 

 pounds. He had on a pair of heavy hunting boots, 

 for we were leaving for the hunting grounds im- 

 mediately after the ascension. One by one the 

 restraining bags of sand were taken off, but still 

 the balloon sat on the ground without any inclina- 

 tion to do otherwise. 



A wave of disappointment spread over the 

 crowd. Suddenly a brilliant inspiration struck the 

 gallant aeronaut. He took off one of his heavy 

 hunting boots and cast it overboard. The balloon 

 arose a foot or two and then sagged back to earth. 

 Then the other boot was cast over and the balloon 

 rose several feet, swaying and whipping savagely 

 over the heads of the crowd. The wind was now 



