CHAPTER XXXIV
LOSS OF AN ANCHOR
At 3 a. m. the wind rose to a hurricane, and blew with such violence that the "Victoria" could not remain at anchor without danger; the reeds beat upon the silk and threatened to tear it in pieces.
"We must be off, Dick," said the doctor. "We cannot stay here under these circumstances."
"But Joe, Samuel?"
"I shall certainly not abandon him; and if the storm carries us 100 miles to the north, I shall return here; but at present we are endangering the safety of all."
"Going without him, then?" said the Scot, with despairing tone.
"Do you not believe that my heart is as heavy as your own, and that I am only yielding to dire necessity?"
"I am at your orders," replied Kennedy. "Let us go."
But the departure involved great difficulties. The grapnel, which had sunk deeply, resisted all their efforts, and the balloon, dragging it, fastened it still tighter. Kennedy could not disengage it; besides, in their position, such an attempt, if successful, would have been very dangerous, for the "Victoria" might have taken flight before Kennedy could have rejoined her.
The doctor, who did not wish to run such a risk, made the Scot enter the car, and determined to cut the rope. The "Victoria" bounded 300 feet into the air, and made directly towards the north. Ferguson was obliged to yield to the storm. He folded his arms and remained absorbed in his own sad reflections. After some minutes he turned towards Kennedy, who was equally taciturn, and said, "We have been tempting Providence, perhaps. It scarcely seems man's province to undertake such a journey." And a deep sigh escaped him.
"But a few days ago," replied Kennedy, we were congratulating ourselves at having so well escaped danger; we were shaking hands all round."
"Poor Joe, what an excellent disposition he possessed, and a brave and honest heart! At one time dazzled by his riches, but he willingly sacrificed his treasure. He is now far away from us, and the wind still hurries along with irresistible violence!"
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