'Don't any of you know how it ought to be done?' said the captain. 'He shall be king forever if he can tell. Did not you attend a course of chemical lectures, last winter, William.'
'Yes, and it was that which first put it into my head, to have a balloon; I wish I had been a little more attentive to the lectures, though, and then I should have remembered how to fill it; but the truth was, I only went to see the experiments.'
Frank was acquainted with the process; his mother had taught it to him, together with many other things in chemistry; and whatever she taught him, he had learned thoroughly. He perceived at once, that here was an opportunity of obliging his companions, making himself popular, and of showing off his superior learning. Vanity filled his heart, he forgot every other consideration.
'Will you let me read the part, which you have?' said Frank.
'Why, do you know any thing about it?' asked the captain, with an air of surprise.
'I believe I do,' said Frank.
He then went on, and stated with clearness and accuracy, the whole process. The manner of all the boys towards him, was changed at once, and they treated him with marked attention.
'I told you he was a right one, and a wise one, too, only you were not acquainted with him,' said William Gardiner. 'I saw it the first day he came out. Come King Francis the first, issue your orders; we are your willing and obedient slaves.'
Frank now entered heart and hand into the business; all his scruples were forgotten. He directed each step in the process. All was successful. The balloon ascended with a graceful, easy motion; floated awhile over their heads, the streamers dancing in the breeze, then rose so high, as to be a mere speck—afterwards, it took a horizontal direction, and having traversed the air, during half an hour, rapidly descended, and fell, they could not see exactly where.