It was the Lieutenant who said he had authority to take one of our
number up with him, and it was I who chanced to be nearest to the
balloon when he extended the invitation. Some one--a friend--removed
from between my teeth the unlighted cigar I held there, for fear I might
forget and try to light it; and somebody else--a stranger to me--
suggested that perhaps I was too heavy for a passenger.
By that time, however, a kindly corporal had boosted me up over the rim
of the basket and helped me to squeeze through the thick netting of guy
lines; and there I was, standing inside that overgrown clotheshamper,
which came up breast high on me--and Brinkner und Meiningen was swinging
himself nimbly in beside me. That basket was meant to hold but one man.
It made a wondrously snug fit for two; the both of us being full-sized
adults at that. We stood back to back; and to address the other each
must needs speak over his shoulder. The canvas saddle was between us,
dangling against the calves of our legs; and the telephone was in front
of the lieutenant, where he could reach the transmitter with his lips by
stooping a little.
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