A tremendous shout arose from the populace who had seen her ascent, and hearing the shouting, Frank thought it was a token of their approval of the engine’s work.
He strode to the rail and doffed his cap.
Again the shout pealed out.
Frank looked perplexed.
It did not sound like a cheer.
Then he heard a faint cry below.
“Help! Help!” was the scream.
It sounded like the voice of a boy, and the inventor glanced down, when, to his amazement, he observed a lad of about fifteen hanging to the drag rope by his hands.
He had been among the spectators.
As the rope swept by he thought it would be great fun to seize it and let the airship lift him up a short distance, when he calculated to let go and drop to the ground again.