Will you conduct him to the bottom of the tower ?" "Mais oui! Avec plaisir, Monsieur le Comte!" cried the gendarme, striking himself hard on the chest to show his eager enthusiasm.
"Merci bien," said Tinker, lowering the rope ladder.
The gendarme held it steady, and the financier descended gingerly.
When he was off it, and the gendarme had loosed it, Tinker said "Au revoir! and mind you wire to my father at once, and let the grapnel rope slip out of the windlass." Lightened of the financier, the machine shot up into the air.
Tinker's task was done: he had only to restore the machine to Herr Schlugst; but he had a long while to wait.

He realised suddenly that he was hungry and very, very sleepy.

By letting some gas escape, he reduced the machine to a controllable buoyancy, and set about warming the coffee which the thoughtful Herr Schlugst had ready made.

Then with brown bread, butter, and German sausage, he made an excellent breakfast.

It was light by the time he had finished; and he set about looking for a sleeping-place, for he could not keep awake long.