Nearer and nearer to the surface of the lake sank the balloon.By this time the crowd on the bank had increased and there were excited opinions as to what was best to do.But the trouble was that little could be done.If the man could hold out until be got near enough to the water to let go he might yet be saved, but this would not be for some time at the present rate the balloon was falling.The performer realized this, and, as the fire was getting hotter, he made another desperate attempt to reach the parachute.It was unavailing and he had to drop back, hanging below the slender bar.
Suddenly there came a puff of wind, fanning the faces of those in the motor-boat, and they looked intently to observe if there was any current as high as was the balloonist.They saw the big bag sway to one side and the flames broke out more fiercely as they caught the draught.The balloon moved slowly down the lake.
"Keep after it, Tom!" urged his father."We may be able to save him!"The lad increased the speed of his engine and Ned, who was at the wheel, gave it a little twist.Then, with a suddenness that was startling, the blazing canvas airship began to settle swiftly toward the water.It had lost much of its buoyancy.
"Now he can jump!He's near enough to the water now!" cried Tom.
But a new danger arose.True, the balloon was rapidly approaching the surface of the lake and in a few seconds more would be within such a short distance that a leap would not be fatal.But the burning bag was coming straight down and scarcely would the man be in the water ere the fiery canvas mass would be on top of him.
In such an event he would either be burned to death or so held down that drowning must quickly follow.
"If there was only wind enough to carry the balloon beyond him after he jumped he could do it safely!" cried Ned.
Tom said nothing.He was measuring, with, his eye, the distance the balloon had yet to go and also the distance away the motor- boat was from where it would probably land.
"He can do it!" exclaimed the young inventor."How?" asked his father.
For answer Tom caught up a newspaper he had purchased at the hotel that morning.Rolling it quickly into a cone, so that it formed a rough megaphone, he put the smaller end to his mouth, and, pointing the larger opening at the balloonist, he called out:
"Drop into the lake! We'll pick you up before the bag falls on you! Jump! Let go now!"The balloonist heard and understood.So did Ned and Mr.Swift.Tom's quick wit had found a way to save the man.
Faster and faster the blazing bag settled toward the surface of the water.It was now merely a mushroom-shaped piece of burning and smoking canvas, yet it was supporting the man almost as a parachute would have done.
With one look upward to the burning mass above him and a glance downward to the lake, the aeronaut let go his hold.Like a shot he came down, holding his body rigid and straight as a stick, for he knew how to fall into water, did that balloonist.
Tom Swift was ready for him.No sooner had the lad called his directions through the megaphone than the young inventor had speeded up his engine to the top notch.
"Steer so as to pick him up!" Tom cried to Ned, who was at the wheel."Pass by him on a curve, and, as soon as I grab him, put the wheel over so as to get out from under the balloon."It was a risky thing to do, but our hero had it all planned out.He made a loop of the boat's painter, and, hurrying to the bow, leaned over as far as he could, holding the rope in readiness.His idea was to have the balloonist grab the strands and be pulled out of danger by the speedy motor-boat, for the blazing canvas would cover such an extent of water that the man could not have swum out of the danger zone in time.
Down shot the balloonist and down more slowly settled the collapsed bag, yet not so slowly that there was any time to spare.It needed only a few seconds to drop over the performer, to burn and smother him.
Into the water splashed the man, disappearing from sight as when a stick is dropped in, point first.Ned was alert and steered the boat to the side in which the man's face was, for he concluded that the aeronaut would strike out in that direction when he came up.The ARROW was now directly under the blazing balloon and cries of fear from the watchers on shore urged upon Tom and his companions the danger of their position.But they had to take some risk to rescue the man.
"There he is!" cried Mr.Swift, who was on the watch, leaning over the side of the boat.Tom and Ned saw him at the same instant.Ned shifted his wheel and the young inventor bent over, holding out the rope for the man to grasp.He saw it and struck out toward the ARROW.But therewas no need for him to go far.An instant more and the speeding motor- boat shot past him.He grabbed the rope and Tom, aided by Mr.Swift, began to lift him out of the water.
"Quick! To one side, Ned!" yelled Tom, for the heat of the descending mass of burning canvas struck him like a furnace blast.
Ned needed no urging.With a swirl of the screw the ARROW shot herself out of the way, carrying the aeronaut with her.A moment later the burning balloon, or what there was left of it, settled down into the lake, hissing angrily as the fire was quenched by the water and completely covering the spot where, but a few seconds before, the man had been swimming.He had been saved in the nick of time.
