The Heroes of the School Part 24

That afternoon Ned and Fenn went over to Bart's house and found him cleaning a small rifle.

"What's up?" asked Fenn.

"Getting ready to go frog hunting," said Bart. "Dad likes their hind legs fried in b.u.t.ter and I said I'd get him a mess."

"Where you going?" asked Ned.

"Over to Ducker's pond. There's lots of 'em there."

"Want any company?" inquired Fenn.

"Sure, come along. Get your rifles. There's a boat over there. Tell Frank and we'll make a day of it."

"They ought to be out plentiful after the rain," remarked Ned. "I'd like to get some for my father. He is fond of 'em."

The boys found frog-hunting great sport. As they walked home in the twilight they pa.s.sed a field in which a crowd of men were gathered about numerous wagons. Here and there tents were being raised.

"What's this?" asked Bart.

"Why it's the traveling fair," replied Ned. "Don't you remember, it's been advertised for the last two weeks? It must have just gotten in.

Come on over."

Ned's surmise proved correct. A large traveling show and fair combined had reached Darewell, where it was to remain for three days. There had been a delay, caused by a break-down of some of the wagons, and, instead of arriving in the early morning, they had only now reached the grounds.

A throng had been attracted by the show, and scores of the boys of the town were offering their services to help put up the tents. The burly men in charge, however, went about their business systematically, and, working by the glare of gasolene torches, soon had some of the tents raised, though the main one would not be in place until morning.

In one part of the grounds the cooking wagon with its portable ranges was in full operation, and hungry men and women performers were making a hasty meal.

"Let's take these frogs home and come back after supper," proposed Bart. "We can have some fun."

This the lads did. They found a bigger crowd than before at the fair grounds, more wagons having arrived with the exhibits.

"Out of the way there!" yelled a hoa.r.s.e voice as a big vehicle, drawn by four horses, approached where the chums were standing. As they moved out of its path they saw, painted on the side of the wagon in large letters, that showed plainly in the flaring torches, the word:

BALLOON.

"That's so, there's going to be a balloon ascension every day," said Ned. "We'll have to take this in to-morrow."

"That's what we will," replied Bart. "I've never seen a balloon go up."

"You'll have a chance to go up in one if you want to," put in Fenn.

"How?"

"Why this is a captive balloon. It's fast to the ground by a rope. They let persons go up in it for a half dollar apiece."

"Then we'll go up," decided Frank. "I've always wanted a ride in one."

CHAPTER XXII

UP IN A BALLOON

It was a good thing the fair came during the vacation season, otherwise there would have been slim cla.s.ses in the schools of Darewell, judging by the throng of boys and girls at the small city of tents, the next day. It seemed that every youngster in the county was on hand long before the time set for the opening.

Many came to watch the men put the big tent up, and the four chums were among this crowd. There was much to interest them in the way the canvas was handled, and to see what appeared a tangled ma.s.s of ropes and coverings be evolved into a big shelter, gay with flags and bunting.

"I want to watch 'em get the balloon ready," said Ned, after they had seen the main tent well under way.

"So do I," chimed in Bart.

The big bag that was destined to sail through the air was being prepared off to one side, and men were laying pipes from a gas main to where it was to be filled. It was a modern affair, intended to be inflated with illuminating vapor instead of hot air as is sometimes the case.

"I wonder how high up it goes?" asked Bart.

"Let's inquire of one of the men," suggested Frank.

There was such a big crowd around the laborers that they found it almost impossible to work. They fairly had to shove some of the boys and other spectators out of the way.

"Don't believe they'll have much time to answer questions," ventured Fenn.

Just then a big man, who seemed to be in charge of matters, called to one of the a.s.sistants, a short chap.

"Hi, Sam, bring five of those ballast bags over here and get a move on!

Don't go to sleep! We haven't got all day!"

The little man glanced at a pile of bags of sand near where the boys were standing. Each bag had a rope handle with a hook attached to it.

The little man dropped the coil of rope he had in his arms.

"Bring five of 'em over!" he exclaimed. "Must think I'm Sandow. It's all I can do to lift one. They weigh forty pounds a piece," and, still grumbling, the little man tackled the bags.

It was evident that two, at the most, were all he could manage. Ned, who was watching him saw an opportunity.

"Come on, fellows," he whispered to his chums. "We'll give him a hand and maybe he'll tell us something about the balloon."

An instant later the four boys hurried to the pile of ballast.

"We'll help you," said Bart. "Where do you want 'em?"

"Oh!" exclaimed the little man evidently somewhat surprised at the offer of help. "Right over there where the boss is. Say, you boys are all right!"

The four chums each took hold of a bag. They found them about all they wanted to carry.

"How high up does the balloon go?" asked Fenn, determined to take advantage of the opportunity.

"Thousand feet," the man replied. "It's held fast by a thin wire cable that goes over a drum. You boys going up?"