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Almost as he spoke； with a final hiss and a cloud of steam that mingled
with the black smoke； the remains of the big bag sunk beneath the surface
of the lake。
〃We must get you ashore at once and to a doctor；〃 said Mr。 Swift。 〃You
must be badly burned。〃
〃Not much。 Only my hands； where some burning pieces of canvas
fell on' em。 If I had a little oil to put on I'd be all right。〃
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〃I can fix you up better than that；〃 put in Tom。 〃I have some
Vaseline。〃
〃Good！ Just the thing。 Pass it over；〃 and the man； though he spoke
shortly； seemed grateful for the offer。 〃My name's Sharp；〃 he went on；
〃John Sharp； of no place in particular； for I travel all over。 I'm a
professional balloonist。 Ha！ That's the stuff！〃
This last was in reference to a bottle of Vaseline； which Tom produced。
Mr。 Sharp spread some over the backs of his hands and went on：
〃That's better。 Much obliged。 I can't begin to thank you for what
you did for me…saved my life。 I thought it was all up with me…would
have been but for you。 Mustn't mind my manner…it's a way I have…
have to talk quick when you're balloonin'…no time …but I'm grateful all
the same。 Who might you people be？〃
Tom told him their names and Mr。 Swift asked the aeronaut if he was
sure he didn't need the services of a physician。
〃No doctor for me；〃 answered the balloonist。 〃I've been in lots of
tight places； but this was the worst squeeze。 If you'll put me ashore； I
guess I can manage now。〃
〃But you're all wet；〃 objected Tom。 〃Where will you go？ You need
some other clothes；〃 for the man wore a suit of tights and spangles。
〃Oh； I'm used to this；〃 went on the performer。 〃I frequently have to
fall in the water。 I always carry a little money with me so as to get back
to the place where I started from。 By the way； where am I？〃
〃Opposite Daleton；〃 answered Tom。 〃Where did you go up from？〃
〃Pratonia。 Big fair there。 I was one of the features。〃
〃Then you're about fifteen miles away；〃 commented Mr。 Swift。 〃You
can hardly get back before night。 Must you go there？〃
〃Left my clothes there。 Also a valuable gas balloon。 No more hot…
air ones for me。 Guess I'd better go back；〃 and the aeronaut continued to
speak in his quick； jerky sentences。
〃We'd be very glad to have you come with us； Mr。 Sharp；〃 went on the
inventor。 〃We are not far from Shopton； and if you would like to remain
over night I'm sure we would make you comfortable。 You can proceed to
Pratonia in the morning。〃
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〃Thanks。 Might not be a bad idea；〃 said Mr。 Sharp。 〃I'm obliged to
you。 I've got to go there to collect my money； though I suppose they
won't give it all to me。〃
〃Why not？〃 demanded Ned。
〃Didn't drop from my parachute。 Couldn't。 Fire was one reason…
couldn't reach the parachute； and if I could have； guess it wouldn't have
been safe。 Parachute probably was burned too。 But I'm done with hot…
air balloons though I guess I said that before。〃
The boys were much interested in the somewhat odd performer； and；
on his part； he seemed to take quite a notion to Tom； who told him of
several things that he had invented。 〃Well；〃 remarked Mr。 Swift after a
while； during which the boat had been moving slowly down the lake； 〃if
we are not to go ashore for a doctor for you； Mr。 Sharp； suppose we put on
more speed and get to my home？ I'm anxious about a robbery that
occurred there；〃 and he related some facts in the case。
〃Speed her up！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Sharp。 〃Wish I could help you catch
the scoundrels； but afraid I can't…hands too sore；〃 and he looked at his
burns。 Then he told how he had made the ascension from the Pratonia
fair grounds and how； when he was high in the air； he had discovered that
the balloon was on fire。 He described his sensations and told how he
thought his time had surely come。 Sparks from the hot air used to inflate it
probably caused the blaze； he said。
〃I've made a number of trips；〃 he concluded； 〃hot air and gas bags； but
this was the worst ever。 It got on my nerves for a few minutes；〃 he added
coolly。
〃I should think it would；〃 agreed Tom as he speeded up the motor and
sent the ARROW on her homeward way。
The boys and Mr。 Swift were much interested in the experiences of the
balloonist and asked him many questions； which he answered modestly。
Several hours passed and late that afternoon the party approached
Shopton。
〃Here we are！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Swift； relief in his tones。 〃Now to see
of what I have been robbed and to get the police after the scoundrels！〃
When the boat was nearing the dock Mr。 Sharp； who had been silent
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for some time； suddenly turned to Tom and asked：
〃Ever invent an airship？〃
〃No；〃 replied the lad； somewhat surprised。 〃I never did。〃
〃I have；〃 went on the balloonist。 〃That is； I've invented part of it。
I'm stuck over some details。 Maybe you and I'll finish it some day。
How about it？〃
〃Maybe；〃 assented Tom； who was occupied just then in making a good
landing。 〃I am interested in airships； but I never thought I could build
one。〃
〃Easiest thing in the world；〃 went on Mr。 Sharp； as if it was an
everyday matter。 〃You and I will get busy as soon as we clear up this
robbery。〃 He talked as though he had been a friend of the family for
some time； for he had a genial； taking manner。
A little later Mr。 Swift was excitedly questioning Garret Jackson
concerning the robbery and making an examination of the electrical shop
to discover what was missing。
〃They've taken some parts of my gyroscope！〃 he exclaimed； 〃and
some valuable tools and papers； as well as some unfinished work that will
be difficult to replace。〃
〃Much of a loss？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp with a business…like air。
〃Well； not so large as regards money；〃 answered the inventor； 〃but they
took things I can never replace； and I will miss them very much if I cannot
get them back。〃
〃Then we'll get them back！〃 snapped the balloonist； as if that was all
there was to it。
The police were called up on the telephone and the facts given to them；
as well as a description of the stolen things。 They promised to do what
they could； but； in the light of past experiences； Tom and his father did not
think this would be much。 There was little more that could be done that
evening。 Ned Newton went to his home； and； after Mr。 Swift had insisted
in calling in his physician to look after Mr。 Sharp's burns the balloonist
was given a room next to Tom's。 Then the Swift household settled down。
〃Well；〃 remarked Tom to his father； as he got ready for bed； 〃this sure
has been an exciting day。〃
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〃And my loss is a serious one；〃 added the inventor somewhat sadly。
〃Don't worry； dad；〃 begged his son。 〃I'll do my best to recover those
things for you。〃
Several days passed； but there was no clew to the thieves。 That they
were the same ones who had stolen the turbine model there was little
doubt； but they seemed to have covered their tracks well。 The police were
at a loss； and； though Tom and Mr。 Sharp cruised about the lake； they
could get no trace of the men。 The balloonist had sent to Pratonia for his
clothing and other baggage and was now installed in the Swift home；
where he was invited to stay a week or two。