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Następny rozdział →1

“Are we rising again?” someone asked.

“No,” another voice replied. “We are not rising.”

“Are we going down?”

“Worse than that, captain!” a voice cried. “We are falling!”

“For goodness sake, throw out the ballast!”

“There! The last bag is empty!”

“Does the balloon go up?”

“No!”

“I hear waves crashing,” someone said. “The sea is below us!”

“It is not more than 500 feet away!”

“Throw everything overboard! Every single thing!”

These loud words filled the air. They were spoken over the wide Pacific Ocean. It was about four o'clock in the evening. The date was March 23, 1865.

Few people could forget the terrible storm. It came from the northeast. This happened in the middle of that year's equinox. The storm lasted from March 18 to March 26. It caused great damage in America, Europe, and Asia. It covered 1,800 miles. It stretched from 35 degrees north to 40 degrees south. Towns were destroyed. Forests were pulled from the ground. Coasts were ruined by huge waves. Hundreds of ships were thrown onto the land. Tornadoes destroyed entire areas. Thousands of people died on land or at sea. This storm was worse than others. It was worse than the storms in Havana in 1810 and Guadalupe in 1825.

Many bad things happened on land and at sea. But something exciting was also happening in the stormy sky. A balloon was caught in a spinning column of air. It moved like a ball on top of a tornado. It traveled 90 miles an hour. It spun around and around. It was like a giant air whirlpool had grabbed it. A basket, called a car, hung below the balloon. Five people were inside the car. They were hard to see. Thick mist and sea spray surrounded them.

Where did this storm-tossed balloon come from? Where in the world did it start its journey? It could not have started during the storm. The storm had already lasted five days. It began on March 18. The balloon must have traveled a very long way. It could have gone at least 2,000 miles in one day.

The passengers had no way to guide themselves. They could not know how far they had traveled. It was strange that they did not feel the storm. They were in the middle of it. They were thrown and spun around. But they did not feel the spinning. They did not know they were moving from side to side.

They could not see through the thick mist. It was below their car. Dark fog was everywhere. The air was so thick. They could not tell if it was day or night. No light could reach them. No sound from land could be heard. The ocean's roar did not reach them either. They were too high up in the dark. Only their fast fall told them about the waves below. The balloon had become lighter. They threw out heavy things. These included bullets, guns, and food. The balloon then rose to 4,500 feet. The travelers saw the sea below them. They thought dangers above were better than dangers below. So they threw out even useful items. They tried not to lose more gas. The gas kept them up. It was their only hope.

The night was full of fear. Less brave people would have given up. Day came again. The storm started to calm down. On March 24, the storm began to get weaker. At sunrise, some clouds went higher into the sky. In a few hours, the wind changed. It went from a hurricane to a gentle breeze. This meant the wind speed was cut in half. Sailors would still call it a strong wind. But the storm was much less violent.

Around eleven o'clock, the air below became clearer. The air lost its cold, wet feeling. This feeling often comes after a big storm. The storm did not seem to move west. It seemed to have used up all its power. Maybe it ended with lightning, like some storms in the Indian Ocean. But the balloon was also slowly going down again. It moved steadily. It looked like it was slowly losing air. Its shape changed from round to oval. Around noon, the balloon was 2,000 feet above the sea. It held 50,000 cubic feet of gas. It could stay in the air for a long time. This was true even if it went very high or sideways.

The passengers saw their danger. They threw out the last heavy things. They threw out the food they had saved. They threw out everything, even their small knives. One man climbed onto the ropes of the net. He tried to fix the bottom of the balloon. But the travelers knew the gas was running out. The balloon could not stay high up. They would surely die.

They saw no land below them. There was no continent or island. The wide ocean showed no land at all. There was no solid place for them to land. It was the open sea. The waves still crashed with great force. The ocean had no end in sight. Even from their high spot, they could see 40 miles. The huge, flat ocean was hit hard by the storm. It looked like wild horses with white manes. Their manes flew in the wind. No land was visible. No single ship could be seen. They had to stop falling. They had to keep the balloon from sinking into the waves. The travelers put all their energy into this task. But even with their efforts, the balloon kept falling. It also moved very fast. It followed the wind from the northeast to the southwest.

These poor men were in a terrible situation. They clearly could not control the balloon anymore. All their tries were useless. The balloon's fabric kept collapsing. The gas escaped. They could not stop it. Their fall became faster. Soon after noon, the car was 600 feet above the ocean. They could not stop the gas from escaping. It rushed out through a big tear in the silk. The passengers had thrown out everything from the car. This had kept them in the air for a few more hours. But they could only delay the disaster. If land did not appear before night, they would all disappear under the waves.

They now tried their last option. They were very brave men. They faced death without fear. Not one of them complained. They decided to fight until the very end. They would do anything to slow their fall. The car was just a basket made of willow. It could not float. There was no way it could stay on the sea's surface.

Two more hours went by. The balloon was barely 400 feet above the water. Then a loud voice spoke. It was a man who knew no fear. Other voices answered him. They were just as brave.

“Is everything thrown out?” someone asked.

“No,” another replied. “Here are still 2,000 dollars in gold.”

A heavy bag quickly fell into the sea.

“Does the balloon go up?”

“A little,” came the answer. “But it will fall again soon.”

“What else can we throw out?”

“Nothing.”

“Yes! The car!”

“Let's grab the net,” someone shouted. “And throw the car into the sea!”

This was the last way to make the balloon lighter. They cut the ropes holding the car. The balloon had fallen, but now it rose 2,000 feet. The five travelers had climbed into the net. They held onto the ropes. They looked down at the deep sea. Balloons are very sensitive. Throwing out even a small thing changes how high they are. A balloon in the air is like a very exact scale. So, when a lot of weight is removed, it moves quickly and suddenly. This is what happened now. But after staying high for a moment, the balloon started to fall again. Gas was escaping from the tear. They could not fix it. The men had done everything they could. No human effort could save them. They had to rely on God's mercy.

At four o'clock, the balloon was only 500 feet above the water. A loud barking sound was heard. A dog was with the travelers. He was held close to his master in the net.

“Top has seen something,” one man shouted.

Then a loud voice immediately cried, “Land! Land!”

Następny rozdział →

rising: wznosimy się

voice: głos

replied: odpowiedział

rising: wznosimy się

Worse: Gorzej

captain: kapitanie

voice: głos

cried: zawołał

falling: spadamy

For goodness sake: Na litość boską

throw out: wyrzućcie

ballast: balast

bag: worek

empty: pusty

balloon: balon

waves: fale

crashing: rozbijające

sea: morze

below: pod

feet: stóp

Throw: Wyrzućcie

overboard: za burtę

single: jedna

loud: głośne

filled: wypełniły

spoken: wypowiedziane

wide: szerokim

Ocean: Oceanem

o'clock: godzina

evening: wieczór

date: data

Few: Niewielu

forget: zapomnieć

terrible: straszną

storm: burzę

northeast: wschodu

middle: środku

year's: roku

equinox: równonocy

lasted: trwała

caused: spowodowała

damage: zniszczenia

covered: objęła

miles: mil

stretched: się

degrees: stopni

north: północnej

south: południowej

Towns: Miasta

destroyed: zniszczone

Forests: Lasy

Coasts: Wybrzeża

ruined: zrujnowane

huge: ogromne

waves: fale

Hundreds: Setki

ships: statków

thrown: wyrzucone

onto: na

Tornadoes: Tornada

entire: całe

areas: obszary

Thousands: Tysiące

died: zginęło

sea: morzu

sea: morzu

exciting: ekscytującego

happening: działo się

stormy: burzowym

sky: niebie

balloon: balon

spinning: wirującą

column: kolumnę

tornado: tornada

traveled: podróżował

miles: mil

giant: gigantyczny

whirlpool: wir

grabbed: złapał

basket: kosz

hung: wisiał

below: poniżej

Thick: Gęsta

mist: mgła

spray: bryza

surrounded: otaczały

storm-tossed: miotany burzą

balloon: balon

journey: podróż

storm: burzy

lasted: trwała

began: zaczęła się

traveled: przebyć

miles: mil

passengers: pasażerowie

guide: kierować

far: daleko

traveled: podróżowali

strange: dziwne

storm: burzy

middle: środku

thrown: rzucani

spun: kręceni

moving: poruszali

mist: mgłę

below: poniżej

fog: mgła

everywhere: wszędzie

reach: dotrzeć

ocean's: oceanu

roar: ryk

waves: falach

balloon: balon

lighter: lżejszy

threw: wyrzucili

heavy: ciężkie

included: obejmowały

bullets: kule

guns: broń

rose: wzniósł się

feet: stóp

travelers: podróżni

sea: morze

dangers: niebezpieczeństwa

above: powyżej

useful: użyteczne

items: przedmioty

gas: gazu

fear: strachu

brave: odważni

given up: poddali się

storm: burza

calm down: uspokajać

began: zaczęła

weaker: słabsza

sunrise: wschodzie słońca

clouds: chmury

higher: wyżej

sky: niebo

wind: wiatr

changed: zmienił się

hurricane: huraganu

gentle: delikatną

breeze: bryzę

speed: prędkość

half: połowę

Sailors: Żeglarze

strong: silnym

violent: gwałtowna

eleven: jedenastej

o'clock: godzinie

below: poniżej

clearer: jaśniejsze

wet: wilgotne

feeling: odczucie

storm: burzy

west: na zachód

used up: zużyć

Maybe: Może

ended: zakończyła się

lightning: błyskawicami

Indian: Indyjskim

Ocean: Oceanie

balloon: balon

slowly: powoli

going down: opadał

steadily: równomiernie

losing: tracił

shape: kształt

changed: zmienił się

oval: owalny

noon: południa

feet: stóp

above: nad

sea: morzem

cubic: sześciennych

gas: gazu

true: prawdą

sideways: na boki

passengers: pasażerowie

danger: niebezpieczeństwo

threw out: wyrzucili

heavy: ciężkie

saved: zaoszczędzone

knives: noże

climbed: wspiął się

onto: na

ropes: liny

net: sieci

fix: naprawić

bottom: dno

balloon: balonu

travelers: podróżnicy

gas: gaz

running out: kończył

surely: z pewnością

die: umrzeć

below: poniżej

continent: kontynentu

island: wyspy

wide: szeroki

solid: stałego

sea: morze

waves: fale

crashed: rozbijały się

sight: zasięgu wzroku

spot: punktu

miles: mil

huge: ogromny

flat: płaski

storm: burzę

wild: dzikie

horses: konie

manes: grzywami

flew: powiewały

wind: wietrze

visible: widoczna

single: pojedynczy

ship: statek

falling: opadanie

balloon: balon

sinking: zatonięciem

travelers: podróżnicy

energy: energię

task: zadanie

efforts: wysiłków

northeast: północnego wschodu

southwest: południowy zachód

terrible: strasznej

situation: sytuacji

clearly: wyraźnie

balloon: balonu

anymore: już

tries: próby

useless: bezużyteczne

fabric: tkanina

collapsing: zapadała się

gas: gaz

escaped: uciekał

faster: szybszy

Soon: Wkrótce

noon: południu

feet: stóp

above: nad

rushed out: wydostał się

tear: dziurę

silk: jedwabiu

passengers: pasażerowie

thrown out: wyrzucili

delay: opóźnić

disaster: katastrofę

disappear: zniknęli

waves: falami

option: opcję

brave: odważnymi

faced: stawili czoła

fear: strachu

complained: narzekał

decided: zdecydowali

basket: kosz

willow: wikliny

float: unosić się

sea's: morza

surface: powierzchni

balloon: balon

barely: zaledwie

feet: stóp

above: nad

loud: głośny

voice: głos

fear: strachu

answered: odpowiedziały

brave: odważne

thrown: wyrzucone

replied: odpowiedział

dollars: dolarów

gold: złocie

heavy: ciężki

bag: worek

quickly: szybko

sea: morza

balloon: balon

grab: złapać

net: sieć

shouted: krzyknął

sea: morza

balloon: balon

lighter: lżejszym

ropes: liny

holding: trzymające

fallen: spadł

rose: wzniósł się

feet: stóp

travelers: podróżników

climbed: wspięli

net: siatki

onto: na

sea: morze

sensitive: wrażliwe

Throwing: Wyrzucenie

changes: zmienia

exact: dokładna

scale: waga

weight: wagi

removed: usunięte

quickly: szybko

suddenly: nagle

staying: pozostaniu

escaping: uchodził

tear: dziury

fix: naprawić

effort: wysiłek

rely: polegać

mercy: miłosierdzie

o'clock: godzinie

balloon: balon

feet: stóp

above: nad

loud: głośny

barking: szczekania

travelers: podróżnikami

master: pana

net: sieci

shouted: krzyknął

loud: głośny

voice: głos

immediately: natychmiast

cried: krzyknął2

The people thrown onto this coast by the storm were not balloon experts. They were not even hobbyists. They were war prisoners. They were brave. They escaped in a very unusual way. They almost died many times. They almost fell from their broken balloon into the deep ocean. But fate had a strange plan for them. They escaped Richmond on March 20th. General Grant's army was attacking Richmond. Richmond was the main city for the South. This was during the terrible Civil War. They found themselves seven thousand miles from Virginia's capital. Their trip in the air lasted five days. Here is how the prisoners managed to escape.

In February 1865, General Grant tried to take Richmond. He did not succeed. Some of his officers were captured by the enemy. They were held in the town. Captain Cyrus Harding was one of the most important officers. He was from Massachusetts. He was a top engineer. The government trusted him to manage the railways during the war. Railways were very important then. He was a true Northerner. He was thin and bony. He was about forty-five years old. His short hair and thick mustache were already gray. He had a smart-looking head. His eyes were sharp. His mouth was serious. He looked like a clever military man. He was an engineer who started with hard work. He was like a general who began as a common soldier. He was smart. He was also very good with his hands. His muscles showed great strength. He was a man of action and thought. Everything he did seemed easy for him. He had a strong and hopeful nature. He was smart, clear-thinking, and practical. He always showed three things that bring success. These were an active mind and body. He had strong desires. He also had a powerful will. His motto could have been William of Orange's words. "I can try and keep going even without hope." Cyrus Harding was courage itself. He fought in every battle of the war. He started as a volunteer in Illinois. He served under Ulysses Grant. He fought bravely in many places. He was a soldier worthy of his general. The general once said, "I never count my dead!" Captain Harding almost died many times. He never held back in fights. But luck was on his side. Then he was wounded. He was taken prisoner near Richmond.

On the same day, another important person was captured. The Southerners took him prisoner. This was Gideon Spilett. He was a reporter for the New York Herald. He was told to report on the war. He stayed with the Northern armies. Gideon Spilett was a strong reporter. He was like Stanley and other English or American writers. He would do anything to get true news. He sent it to his newspaper very quickly. Union newspapers like the New York Herald were very powerful. Their reporters were important men. Gideon Spilett was one of the best reporters. He was very good at his job. He was energetic and quick. He was ready for anything. He had many ideas. He had traveled all over the world. He was a soldier and an artist. He was excited in meetings. He was firm in his actions. He did not care about trouble or danger. He sought information for himself and his newspaper. He knew many strange things. He knew about untold stories. He knew about unknown things. He knew about impossible things. He was a brave observer. He wrote while bullets flew around him. He reported during battles. He welcomed all danger. He was also in all the battles. He was always at the front. He held a gun in one hand. He held a notebook in the other. Cannon fire never made his hand shake. He did not send endless telegrams. He was not like those who talk without saying anything. His notes were short and clear. Each note explained something important. He also had a good sense of humor. After the Black River battle, he wanted to stay at the telegraph office. He sent the battle results to his newspaper. Then he telegraphed the first chapters of the Bible for two hours. This cost the New York Herald two thousand dollars. But the New York Herald was the first to publish the news. Gideon Spilett was tall. He was a little over forty years old. Light, reddish whiskers framed his face. His eyes were steady and lively. They changed quickly. He could see all details of a scene at once. He was well-built. He was used to all kinds of weather. He was like steel made strong by cold water. Gideon Spilett worked for the New York Herald for ten years. He made it better with his writing and drawings. He was good with a pencil and a pen. When he was caught, he was drawing the battle. He was also writing about it. His last notebook entry said, "A Southern soldier just aimed at me, but—" But the soldier missed Gideon Spilett. Spilett was lucky as usual. He was not hurt at all.

Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett knew each other only by name. Both were taken to Richmond. The engineer's wounds healed fast. He met the reporter while he was getting better. The two men soon respected each other. They both wanted one thing. They wanted to escape. They wanted to rejoin Grant's army. They wanted to fight with the Federal soldiers. The two Americans decided to take any chance to escape. They could walk freely in the town. But Richmond was guarded very strictly. Escape seemed impossible. Then Captain Harding's servant found him. This servant was loyal to him always. This brave man was Black. He was born on the engineer's land. His parents were slaves. But Cyrus believed slavery was wrong. He had given the man his freedom long ago. The man was free. But he would not leave his master. He would have died for him. He was about thirty years old. He was strong and active. He was clever and smart. He was gentle and calm. Sometimes he was simple. He was always happy. He was helpful and honest. His name was Nebuchadnezzar. But everyone called him Neb.

Neb heard his master was a prisoner. He left Massachusetts right away. He came to Richmond. He used tricks and smart thinking. He risked his life many times. He got into the city under attack. Harding was very happy to see his servant. Neb was very happy to find his master. Their joy was hard to describe. Neb got into Richmond. But getting out was different. Northern prisoners were watched very closely. They needed a special chance to escape. This chance did not appear. It was very hard to find.

Meanwhile, Grant kept up his strong attacks. The win at Petersburg cost many lives. His army and Butler's army had not taken Richmond. The prisoners had no hope of being freed soon. The reporter could not stand his boring captivity. Nothing interesting happened. His active mind had only one thought. He wanted to get out of Richmond no matter what. He tried to escape many times. But something always stopped him.

The siege continued. The prisoners wanted to escape to Grant's army. Some people in Richmond also wanted to join the Southern forces. Jonathan Forster was one of them. He was a strong Southerner. Secessionist prisoners could not leave the town. Also, Secessionists could not leave. The Northern army surrounded the city. Richmond's Governor could not talk to General Lee. He wanted to tell Lee about the city's state. He hoped Lee would send help faster. So Jonathan Forster thought of an idea. He would use a balloon. He would fly over the enemy lines. He would reach the Secessionist camp. The Governor allowed him to try. A balloon was made for Forster. Five other people would go with him. They had weapons to defend themselves when they landed. They had food if their trip lasted a long time.

The balloon was set to leave on March 18th. It would leave at night. A moderate northwest wind would help. The balloonists thought they would reach General Lee's camp in hours. But this wind was not just a light breeze. From the 18th, it became clear it was turning into a hurricane. The storm grew strong. Forster's trip was delayed. It was too dangerous to fly the balloon in such a storm. The balloon was filled in Richmond's main square. It was ready to leave when the wind calmed. People in the city wanted the storm to stop. They were very impatient. March 18th and 19th passed. The weather did not change. It was hard to keep the balloon tied down. Strong winds tossed it around wildly. The night of the 19th ended. The next morning, the storm was even stronger. The balloon could not leave.

That day, Cyrus Harding was stopped in a Richmond street. He did not know the person at all. This was a sailor named Pencroft. He was about thirty-five or forty years old. He was strongly built and very tan. He had bright, sparkling eyes. He had a very kind face. Pencroft was a Northerner. He had sailed all over the ocean. He had many adventures. He had done almost impossible things. He was a brave and daring man. He was ready to try anything. Nothing surprised him. Earlier that year, Pencroft went to Richmond for business. He brought a fifteen-year-old boy named Herbert. Herbert was from New Jersey. He was an orphan. Pencroft loved him like his own son. He could not leave the town before the siege started. He was stuck, which he hated. But he never gave up easily. He decided to escape somehow. He knew about the engineer. He knew how much this strong man hated being held captive. So that day, he spoke to Harding directly. He asked, "Have you had enough of Richmond, captain?"

The engineer stared at the man. The man then added softly, "Captain Harding, will you try to escape?"

"When?" the engineer asked quickly. He asked without thinking. He had not yet looked closely at the stranger. But he then looked at the sailor's honest face. He saw that the man was trustworthy. "Who are you?" he asked simply. Pencroft told him his name. "Well," Harding replied, "how do you plan to escape?"

"With that idle balloon," Pencroft said. "It is just sitting there. It looks like it is waiting for us."

The sailor did not need to finish. The engineer understood right away. He grabbed Pencroft's arm. He pulled him to his house. There, the sailor explained his plan. It was very simple. They only risked their lives. The hurricane was very strong. But Cyrus Harding was a clever engineer. He knew how to handle a balloon. Pencroft knew how to sail a ship. If he knew how to fly a balloon, he would have left already. He would have taken Herbert with him. He was used to ocean storms. A hurricane would not stop him. Captain Harding listened quietly. His eyes showed he was pleased. This was the chance he had waited for. He would not let it go. The plan was possible. But it was also very dangerous. At night, they could get to the balloon. They could sneak into the basket. Then they could cut the ropes. Their guards would not see them. They might die, that was true. But they might also succeed. Without this storm, the balloon would have left already. They would not have had this chance.

"I am not alone!" Harding said finally.

"How many people do you want to bring?" the sailor asked.

"Two," Harding said. "My friend Spilett, and my servant Neb."

"That makes three," Pencroft replied. "With Herbert and me, that is five. But the balloon can hold six."

"That is enough," Harding said firmly. "We will go." This "we" included Spilett. Harding knew his friend would not back down. When he told Spilett the plan, Spilett fully agreed. Spilett was surprised. He wondered why he had not thought of such a simple idea himself. Neb would follow his master anywhere. "This evening, then," Pencroft said. "We will all meet outside."

"This evening, at ten o'clock," Captain Harding replied. "I hope the storm does not calm down before we leave." Pencroft left the two friends. He went back to his room. Young Herbert Brown was there. The brave boy knew about the sailor's plan. He waited anxiously to hear if the engineer agreed. So five determined people were ready. They would face the wild storm.

No, the storm did not calm down. Jonathan Forster and his group would not face it. They would not go in that weak balloon basket. It would be a terrible trip. The engineer feared only one thing. The wind might tear the balloon apart. It was tied to the ground and tossed around. For hours, he walked around the empty square. He checked the balloon. Pencroft did the same. His hands were in his pockets. He yawned sometimes. He looked like a man with nothing to do. But he truly feared the balloon might escape or be destroyed. His friend feared this too. Evening came. The night was very dark. Thick fog moved like clouds near the ground. Rain mixed with snow fell. It was very cold. A mist covered Richmond. The strong storm seemed to stop the fighting. The cannons were quiet. The storm made louder noises. The town streets were empty. No one thought a guard was needed in the square. The balloon was there in the terrible weather. Everything helped the prisoners leave. But what would happen on their dangerous trip? They were going into the wild storm. "Bad weather!" Pencroft shouted. He hit his hat to make it stay on. "But oh well, we will still succeed!"

At 9:30, Harding and his friends moved into the square. They came from different directions. The wind had put out the gas lamps. The square was completely dark. Even the huge balloon could not be seen. It was almost pushed to the ground. The basket was held by a strong cable. This cable went through a ring in the ground. It was also held by sandbags tied to the net. The five prisoners met near the basket. No one saw them. It was so dark they could not see each other. Harding, Spilett, Neb, and Herbert got into the basket. They did not speak. Pencroft, following the engineer's order, untied the sandbags one by one. This took only a few minutes. The sailor then joined his friends. Only the cable held the balloon now. The engineer just needed to give the command.

At that moment, a dog jumped into the basket. It was Top, the engineer's favorite dog. The loyal dog broke its chain. It followed its master. Harding feared the dog's weight. It might stop them from rising. He wanted to send the dog away. "One more will not matter much, poor animal!" Pencroft cried. He threw out two sandbags. As he spoke, he let go of the cable. The balloon rose at an angle. It hit two chimneys and knocked them down. Then it disappeared.

Then the travelers truly felt the hurricane's full power. The engineer could not think of landing at night. When day came, fog blocked their view of the earth. Five days went by. Then the sky cleared a little. They saw the vast ocean below them. The strong wind made the ocean wild. Our readers will remember what happened to these five brave people. They started their dangerous balloon trip on March 20th. Five days later, four of them landed on a deserted coast. It was seven thousand miles from their home. But one person was missing. This was their guide and leader. It was the engineer, Captain Harding! As soon as they could stand, they rushed to the beach. They hoped to help him.

Następny rozdział →

thrown: wyrzuceni

onto: na

coast: wybrzeże

storm: burzę

balloon: balonowi

experts: eksperci

hobbyists: hobbystami

prisoners: więźniami

brave: odważni

escaped: oni

unusual: sposób

died: zginęli

broken: uszkodzonego

fate: los

strange: plan

General: Armia

army: atakowała

attacking: Richmond

terrible: Wojny

Civil: Domowej

miles: od

capital: stolicy

trip: podróż

lasted: pięć

managed: uciec

General: Generał

succeed: odniósł sukcesu

officers: oficerów

captured: schwytani

enemy: wrogów

engineer: inżynierem

trusted: ufał

manage: zarządzać

railways: kolejami

true: prawdziwym

Northerner: Północniakiem

thin: chudy

bony: kościsty

forty-five: czterdziestu pięciu

mustache: wąsy

gray: siwe

smart-looking: inteligentnie wyglądającą

sharp: bystre

serious: poważne

clever: sprytny

military: wojskowy

began: zaczął

soldier: żołnierz

smart: bystry

muscles: mięśnie

strength: siłę

action: czyn

strong: silny

hopeful: pełną nadziei

clear-thinking: jasno myślący

practical: praktyczny

success: sukces

active: aktywny

desires: pragnienia

powerful: potężny

keep going: kontynuować

courage: odwaga

fought: walczył

battle: bitwie

volunteer: ochotnik

served: służył

bravely: dzielnie

worthy: godny

count: liczę

dead: zmarłych

died: zginął

held back: wstrzymywał się

luck: szczęście

wounded: ranny

prisoner: do niewoli

captured: schwytana

reporter: reporterem

Northern: Północnymi

armies: armiami

strong: dobrym

writers: pisarze

true: prawdziwe

newspaper: gazety

quickly: szybko

powerful: potężne

energetic: energiczny

traveled: podróżował

all over: po całym

soldier: żołnierzem

artist: artystą

meetings: spotkaniach

firm: stanowczy

actions: działaniach

trouble: kłopoty

danger: niebezpieczeństwo

sought: szukał

information: informacji

strange: dziwnych

untold: nieopowiedzianych

stories: historiach

unknown: nieznanych

impossible: niemożliwych

brave: odważnym

observer: obserwatorem

bullets: kule

flew: latały

reported: relacjonował

battles: bitew

welcomed: witał

gun: broń

notebook: notatnik

Cannon: Armatni

shake: drżała

endless: niekończących się

telegrams: telegramów

notes: notatki

explained: wyjaśniała

humor: humoru

River: Rzece

telegraph: telegraficznym

office: biurze

results: wyniki

chapters: rozdziały

dollars: dolarów

publish: opublikować

tall: wysoki

forty: czterdzieści

reddish: rudawa

whiskers: baki

framed: oprawiały

steady: spokojne

lively: żywe

changed: zmieniały się

details: szczegóły

scene: sceny

at once: od razu

well-built: dobrze zbudowany

kinds: rodzajów

weather: pogody

steel: stal

writing: pisaniu

drawings: rysunkom

pencil: ołówku

pen: piórze

drawing: rysował

entry: wpis

Southern: Południowy

aimed: wycelował

missed: chybił

lucky: szczęśliwy

usual: zwykle

hurt: ranny

engineer's: inżyniera

wounds: rany

healed: zagoiły się

reporter: reportera

respected: szanowali

escape: uciec

rejoin: ponownie dołączyć

army: do armii

Federal: federalnymi

soldiers: żołnierzami

decided: zdecydowali

chance: szansę

freely: swobodnie

guarded: strzeżone

strictly: surowo

impossible: niemożliwa

servant: służący

loyal: lojalny

brave: odważny

born: urodzony

slaves: niewolnikami

slavery: że niewolnictwo

freedom: wolność

master: pana

died: umarł

strong: silny

active: aktywny

clever: bystry

smart: inteligentny

gentle: łagodny

calm: spokojny

helpful: pomocny

honest: uczciwy

master: pana

prisoner: więźniem

right away: natychmiast

tricks: sztuczek

smart: sprytnego

risked: ryzykował

attack: atakiem

servant: sługę

joy: radość

describe: opisania

Northern: Północni

closely: uważnie

chance: szansy

escape: ucieczkę

Meanwhile: Tymczasem

kept up: podtrzymywał

strong: silne

attacks: ataki

army: armia

prisoners: więźniowie

freed: uwolnionymi

boring: nudnej

captivity: niewoli

active: aktywny

no matter what: bez względu na wszystko

escape: uciec

siege: oblężenie

continued: trwało

prisoners: więźniowie

escape: uciec

army: armii

join: dołączyć

Southern: Południowych

forces: sił

strong: silnym

Southerner: Południowcem

Secessionist: Secesjonistyczni

Northern: Północna

surrounded: otoczyła

Governor: Gubernator

General: Generałem

city's: miasta

hoped: miał nadzieję

faster: szybciej

balloon: balon

enemy: wroga

reach: dotarł

camp: obozu

allowed: pozwolił

weapons: broń

defend: bronić

landed: wylądowali

trip: podróż

lasted: trwała

balloon: balon

moderate: umiarkowany

northwest: północno-zachodni

wind: wiatr

balloonists: baloniarze

reach: dotrzeć

General: Generała

camp: obozu

breeze: bryzą

turning: zmieniał się

hurricane: huragan

storm: burza

grew: rosła

strong: silna

trip: podróż

delayed: opóźniona

dangerous: niebezpieczne

filled: napełniony

square: placu

calmed: uspokoił się

impatient: niecierpliwi

passed: minęły

weather: pogoda

tied: przywiązany

tossed: rzucały

wildly: dziko

ended: skończyła się

street: ulicy

sailor: marynarz

named: imieniem

thirty-five: trzydzieści pięć

forty: czterdzieści

strongly: silnie

built: zbudowany

tan: opalony

bright: jasne

sparkling: błyszczące

Northerner: Północniakiem

sailed: żeglował

all over: po całym

adventures: przygód

impossible: niemożliwych

brave: odważnym

daring: śmiałym

surprised: zaskoczyło

Earlier: Wcześniej

fifteen-year-old: piętnastoletniego

orphan: sierotą

siege: oblężenie

stuck: uwięziony

hated: nienawidził

gave up: poddał się

easily: łatwo

decided: postanowił

escape: uciec

somehow: jakoś

engineer: inżynierze

strong: silny

captive: w niewoli

directly: bezpośrednio

captain: kapitanie

engineer: inżynier

stared: wpatrywał się

added: dodał

softly: cicho

escape: uciec

engineer: inżynier

quickly: szybko

closely: uważnie

stranger: nieznajomego

sailor's: marynarza

honest: uczciwą

trustworthy: godny zaufania

simply: po prostu

replied: odpowiedział

escape: uciec

idle: bezczynnym

balloon: balonem

sailor: marynarz

finish: skończyć

engineer: inżynier

understood: zrozumiał

right away: od razu

grabbed: chwycił

explained: wyjaśnił

risked: ryzykowali

hurricane: huragan

strong: silny

clever: sprytnym

handle: obsłużyć

balloon: balon

sail: żeglować

ship: statkiem

storms: burz

listened: słuchał

quietly: spokojnie

pleased: zadowolony

chance: szansa

waited: czekał

possible: możliwy

dangerous: niebezpieczny

sneak: zakraść się

basket: kosza

ropes: liny

guards: strażnicy

die: umrzeć

true: prawda

succeed: odnieść sukces

alone: sam

finally: w końcu

sailor: marynarz

servant: służący

replied: odpowiedział

balloon: balon

firmly: stanowczo

included: obejmowało

back down: wycofa się

fully: w pełni

agreed: zgodził się

surprised: zaskoczony

wondered: zastanawiał się

master: panem

anywhere: wszędzie

evening: wieczoru

evening: wieczór

o'clock: godzinie

replied: odpowiedział

storm: burza

calm down: uspokoi się

brave: dzielny

sailor's: marynarza

waited: czekał

anxiously: niespokojnie

engineer: inżynier

agreed: zgodził się

determined: zdeterminowanych

wild: dzikiej

storm: burza

calm down: uspokoiła się

weak: słabym

balloon: balonowym

basket: koszu

terrible: straszna

trip: podróż

engineer: inżynier

feared: obawiał się

wind: wiatr

tear: rozerwać

apart: na strzępy

tied: przywiązany

tossed: miotany

walked: chodził

empty: pustego

square: placu

checked: sprawdzał

pockets: kieszeniach

yawned: ziewał

truly: naprawdę

escape: uciec

destroyed: zniszczony

Thick: Gęsta

fog: mgła

clouds: chmury

Rain: Deszcz

mixed: zmieszany

snow: śniegiem

mist: mgła

covered: pokryła

strong: silna

fighting: walki

cannons: armaty

quiet: ciche

louder: głośniejsze

noises: hałasy

streets: ulice

guard: strażnik

weather: pogodzie

prisoners: więźniom

dangerous: niebezpiecznej

wild: dziką

shouted: krzyknął

hat: kapelusz

stay on: został

oh well: cóż

succeed: odniesiemy sukces

square: plac

directions: kierunków

wind: wiatr

put out: zgasił

gas: gazowe

lamps: lampy

completely: całkowicie

huge: ogromny

balloon: balon

pushed: pchany

basket: kosz

strong: mocną

cable: linę

ring: pierścień

sandbags: worki z piaskiem

tied: przywiązane

net: siatki

prisoners: więźniów

following: postępując zgodnie z

engineer's: inżyniera

order: rozkazem

untied: rozwiązał

one by one: jeden po drugim

minutes: minut

sailor: marynarz

joined: dołączył

command: rozkaz

jumped: wskoczył

basket: kosza

engineer: inżynier

favorite: ulubiony

loyal: wierny

broke: zerwał

chain: łańcuch

master: panem

feared: obawiał się

weight: wagi

rising: wznoszeniem się

animal: zwierzę

cried: zawołał

threw: wyrzucił

sandbags: worki z piaskiem

let go: puścił

cable: linę

balloon: balon

angle: kątem

chimneys: kominy

knocked: przewrócił

disappeared: zniknął

travelers: podróżnicy

truly: naprawdę

hurricane's: huraganu

engineer: inżynier

landing: lądowaniu

fog: mgła

blocked: zablokowała

view: widok

earth: ziemię

went by: minęło

sky: niebo

cleared: przejaśniło się

vast: rozległy

below: pod

strong: silny

wind: wiatr

wild: był dziki

readers: czytelnicy

remember: pamiętać

brave: odważnym

dangerous: niebezpieczną

balloon: balonową

trip: podróż

later: później

deserted: opuszczonym

coast: wybrzeżu

miles: mil

missing: zaginiona

guide: przewodnik

leader: lider

As soon as: Jak tylko

rushed: rzucili się

beach: plażę

hoped: mieli nadzieję