Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 1.djvu/327

 which weighed more than 100 lbs., he threw it overboard.

The "Victoria," suddenly lightened, made a bound of 300 feet into the air, amidst the yells of the tribe, from whom the prisoner had escaped in a flash of dazzling light.

"Hurrah!" cried the doctor's companions.

Suddenly the balloon gave another bound, which carried it up to an elevation of 1,000 feet.

"What is it?" asked Kennedy, who had nearly lost his equilibrium.

"Nothing! It is only that blackguard who has let go," replied the doctor calmly.

And Joe, looking quickly over, could still perceive the savage with extended hands tumbling over and over in the air, and he soon fell crushed upon the ground. The doctor then separated the two electric wires, and the obscurity became profound. It was one o'clock in the morning.

The Frenchman, who had fainted, at length opened his eyes.

"You are saved!" said the doctor.

"Saved!" he answered in English, with a sad smile, "saved from a cruel death. My brothers, I thank you; but my days are numbered, even my hours are fast running out, and I have not long to live"

And the missionary, utterly exhausted, relapsed into insensibility.

"He is dead!" exclaimed Dick.

"No, no," replied Ferguson, as he bent over him, "but he is very weak; let us lay him down in the tent."

They laid down gently upon the coverings the poor emaciated body, covered with scars and still bleeding wounds, and on which the iron and the fire had left a hundred saddening traces. The doctor made some lint from a handkerchief, which he placed upon the wounds, after having washed them carefully. He did all this with the practiced hand of a doctor, then taking a cordial from the medicine-chest he poured a few drops down his patient's throat.

The priest feebly touched his quivering lips, and had scarcely strength to murmur "Thank you!"

The doctor perceived that it was necessary to leave him in perfect repose, so he drew the curtains of the tent and resumed his guidance of the balloon.