Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 1.djvu/269

 It is often the case in Africa that malarious regions of small extent border upon the most perfectly healthy districts.

Kennedy was suffering, and the fever prostrated him.

"This is scarcely the place to be laid up in," said he, as he wrapped himself in his rug and lay down.

"Just a little patience, Dick," replied the doctor, "and you will recover rapidly."

"Recover! By Jove, my dear Samuel, if you have any drug that will set me up, let me have it at once. I will swallow it with my eyes shut."

"I know something better than that, friend Dick. I will give you a dose that will cost nothing."

"How?"

"It is very simple. I am about to mount right over these clouds which are drowning us, and get free from this pestilential atmosphere. I only ask ten minutes to expand the gas."

The ten minutes had scarcely elapsed, when the balloon had passed out of the wet zone.

"Now, wait a little, Dick, and you will soon feel the benefit of the pure air and sunshine."

"There is indeed a remedy," cried Joe. "It is really wonderful!"

"Not at all—only natural."

"Oh! I don't doubt it is perfectly natural!"

"I only send Dick into purer air, as people are sent every day in Europe."

"Ah!" cried Kennedy, who already was beginning to feel better. "This balloon is really 'paradise.'"

"In any case it leads there," said Joe seriously.

The view beneath the balloon at that moment was a curious spectacle; the masses of cloud were piled up in magnificent array, moving one above the other, and tinged with the glorious rays of the sun. The "Victoria" had attained an altitude of 4,000 feet, and the thermometer indicated a fall in the temperature. The earth was invisible. About fifty miles westward, Mount Rubeho raised its sparkling head, which indicated the limit of the country of Ugogo, in 36° 20' longitude. The wind had the force of twenty miles an hour, but the travelers felt nothing of this rapid movement; they experienced no inconvenience whatever, indeed they were scarcely aware of the progress they