The Talibas spurred their horses, and soon a volley of musketry rent the air.
"Too far, you idiots!" cried Joe. "We had better keep those scamps at arm's length," and taking aim, he fired. One of the Talibas rolled on the ground; his companions pulled up, and the "Victoria" thus gained a little.
"They are prudent," said Kennedy.
"Because they believe themselves sure of us," said the doctor, "and they will succeed if we descend any lower. We must absolutely ascend."
"What is there to be thrown over?" asked Joe.
"All the pemmican that is left. We can thus get rid of 30 lbs. weight."
"There; it is gone, sir," said Joe.
The car, which had been almost touching the ground, ascended again amid the cries of the Talibas; but, half an hour later, the "Victoria" redescended rapidly—the gas pouring from the folds of the silk. The car soon touched the ground; the adherents of Al-Hadji hastened towards it; but, as happened before, scarcely had it touched the earth when the "Victoria" bounded about a mile farther on.
"We shall not escape after all!" cried Kennedy in a rage.
"Throw out the brandy, Joe," cried the doctor; "and the instruments—everything of any weight, and our last anchor. We must do it."
Joe threw away the barometers and thermometers, but these were not much, and the balloon, which had gone up for an instant, soon fell to earth again. The Talibas came flying after it, and were not 200 yards distant now.
"Throw away two of the guns," said the doctor.
"Not until I have discharged them, at least," replied Kennedy.
Four successive shots pierced the crowd of horsemen—four Talibas fell amid the frantic raging of the troop.
The "Victoria" ascended once more, it bounded immense distances, like a great india-rubber ball. A strange sight was that of these unfortunate men seeking to escape by means of these gigantic leaps, and the balloon, Antæus-like, seemed to derive new strength each time it touched the earth. But the end must come. It was nearly noon. The "Victoria" shuddered and collapsed; the envelope be-
