Over the bag was a net work of strong cords, and the cords
were fastened to the rim of a large square basket. To the basket were
tied ropes, and to the ends of these ropes were bags of sand, thus
holding the balloon to the ground.
"What makes it go up?" asked Flossie, as she watched the swaying bag.
"Gas," explained Mr. Bobbsey. "They put in the big bag some gas,
sometimes one kind and sometimes another, just like the gas in your toy
balloons. This gas is so very light--it's not even so heavy as air--that
it wants to go up into the air, all by itself. And when it is inside a
bag the gas takes the bag up into the air with it."
"And the basket too? Doesn't it take the basket?" Freddie asked.
"Yes, the basket goes up with the balloon," said Mrs. Bobbsey.
"Who goes in the basket?" asked Freddie.
"Oh, the man," his father answered.
"Do any children go in the balloon?" called out Flossie. "Any boys or
girls?"
"Oh, no!" quickly said Nan, for she did not want her little sister and
brother to tease for a ride in a balloon basket.
"I'd like a ride in a balloon," murmured Freddie.
Just then the wind began to blow more strongly, and the big gas bag
swayed to one side, toward a crowd of people who ran to get out of the
way.
"Get more ropes!" cried one of the balloon men. "Get more ropes and sand
bags!"
"That's right!" shouted another man. "There's going to be a storm. I
don't know whether we ought to send the balloon up!"
"Oh, let her go!" cried several in the crowd.
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