238 THE LAND OF PLUCK

this. And so, after a while, their balloon burst with a
terrible bang, and at once began to tumble and pitch about
at such a rate that the poor fellows were bumped out of the
car and had to hold on to the wreck as well as they could ;
for, now that the gas was out, their balloon was heavier
than the air, and would have to go down.”

“Tt ’s awful to be a monkey way up in a balloon, when
it’s all bursted,” said Marie, nearly ready to cry. “Oh!” she
added, suddenly turning her earnest blue eyes full upon
Monsieur’s face. “I do wish you had gone with them, so
you could have pulled the string !”

Monsieur laughed, but the donne stepped briskly for-
ward, fearing that her little charge was growing too
talkative.

“Now, children, thank the kind gentleman, and come
home to Mama.”

Marie took her hand willingly ; but Henri had another
question to ask:

“What word is that, Monsieur, printed on the balloon
in the corner ?”

“Montgolfier, the name of two brothers. They were
the first men who ever sent a balloon up in the air. This
was in the sunmer-time, about a hundred years ago.”

“Where did they get the gas?” asked Henri, hurriedly,
for the bonne was looking at him, with her lips pressed
impatiently.

“They did n’t use gas at all, my boy; they kindled a
fire, and filled the bag with smoke. They thought the
smoke carried up the balloon, but in reality it was the hot
air, which is very much lighter than ordinary air.”