Tinker had shown him his mettle, and he began to have confidence.

Besides, he had drunk a good deal of the bottle of brandy.

They hurried through the town by byways, and up on to the cliffs.

As they neared the palisade, and saw the great bulk of the balloon looming through the starlight, the panting financier's spirits sank: his teeth chattered, and his knees knocked together.
"Oh, buck up! Buck up!" said Tinker impatiently.

"You're all right! You're all right!" It was a matter of a few seconds for him to climb the door of the palisades, drop lightly on the other side, and open it.