and rate of movement; and can either throw out more newspapers, and
keep on for awhile, or descend at once."

It was just ten o'clock, when Ralph gave a sudden cry.

"The sea!" he said; "the sea!"

"Impossible," Monsieur Teclier said, hanging over the side; "I can
see nothing."

"Nor can I, now," Ralph said; "but I caught a glimpse, just now,
and I will almost swear to its being the sea--though how we could
get there, I don't know."

"If it is," the aeronaut said, "the wind must be blowing half a
gale, up here; and must have changed entirely, either to the west
or south. It is too serious to hesitate; we must find out if your
eyes have not deceived you."

So saying, he pulled the valve.

"Keep a sharp lookout, and look at the compass."

"There, there!" the boys cried, as the clouds opened again, for an
instant. "It is the sea, and we are going west."

"Then we are over the Atlantic," Monsieur Teclier said.

The gas was roaring from the valve above, and the balloon sank
rapidly into the stratum of clouds. For a minute, all was silent;
and then a cry broke from them all. They were a considerable
distance from the coast, and were driving along with great
rapidity. Immediately under the balloon was an island, of no great
size and, beyond that, no land whatever was visible.

"We must descend on that island, or we are lost. It is our only
chance."

The valve was still open; and its influence was easily seen, for
the balloon sank rapidly down through the opening of the clouds.

"We shan't be down in time," the boys exclaimed, simultaneously.

It was but too evident. The balloon, when the first general view of
the situation had been obtained, was fully a mile high; and was
traveling seaward at the rate of thirty miles an hour. The island,
at the point at which they were crossing, was about three miles
wide; but they had passed fully half a mile over it, before they
obtained a fair view. In five minutes, therefore, they would be
beyond the land again; and they had to fall a mile, in that time.

"Cut the balloon to pieces," Monsieur Teclier said. "Tear it up. We
must risk everything."

The boys seized the silk, tore, and hacked at it; as did the
aeronaut. In two minutes, a vast quantity of gas had escaped from
the rents, and the silk was doubled up near the top of the net.

Illustration: The Sea! The Sea!

"That will do," Monsieur Teclier said. "We shall be down in time,
now."

The boys looked over the