... to join the Southern forces Among them was one Jonathan Forster, a determined Southerner The truth was, that if the prisoners of the Secessionists could not leave the town, neither could the Secessionists ... from their country! But one of their number was missing, the man who was to be their guide, their leading spirit, the engineer, Captain Harding! The instant they had recovered their feet, they ... guards, they might approach the balloon, slip into the car, and then cut the cords which held it There was no doubt that they might be killed, but on the other hand they might succeed, and without...