Mr. Prudent and Mr. Evans defended themselves as best they could. Knowing that their balloon had nothing like the horizontal speed of the “Albatross,” they attempted to take advantage of their superior lightness and rise above her. The “Go-Ahead,” throwing out all her ballast, soared to a height of over twenty thousand feet. Yet even there the “Albatross” rose above her, and circled round her with ease. Suddenly an explosion was heard. The enormous gas-bag of the “Go-Ahead,” expanding under the dilation of its contents at this great height, had finally burst. Half-emptied, the balloon fell rapidly. Then to our universal astonishment, the “Albatross” shot down after her rival, not to finish the work of destruction but to bring rescue. Yes! Robur, forgetting his vengeance, rejoined the sinking “Go-Ahead,” and his men lifted Mr. Prudent, Mr. Evans, and the aeronaut who accompanied them, onto the platform of his craft. Then the balloon, being at length entirely empty, fell to its destruction among the trees of Fairmount Park. The public was overwhelmed with astonishment, with fear! Now that Robur had recaptured his prisoners, how would he avenge himself? Would they be carried away, this time, forever? The “Albatross” continued to descend, as if to land in the clearing at Fairmount Park. But if it came within reach, would not the infuriated crowd throw themselves upon the airship, tearing both it and its inventor to pieces? The “Albatross” descended within six feet of the ground. I remember well the general movement forward with which the crowd threatened to attack it. Then Robur’s voice rang out in words which even now I can repeat almost as he said them: “Citizens of the United States, the president and the secretary of the Weldon Institute are again in my power. In holding them prisoners I would but be exercising my natural right of reprisal for the injuries they have done me. But the passion and resentment which have been roused both in them and you by the success of the ‘Albatross,’ show that the souls of men are not yet ready for the vast increase of power which the conquest of the air will bring to them. Uncle Prudent, Phillip Evans, you are free.” The three men rescued from the balloon leaped to the ground. The airship rose some thirty feet out of reach, and Robur recommenced: “Citizens of the United States, the conquest of the air is made; but it shall not be given into your hands until the proper time. I leave, and I carry my secret with me. It will not be lost to humanity, but shall be entrusted to them when they have learned not to abuse it. Farewell, Citizens of the United States!” Then the “Albatross” rose under the impulse of its mighty screws, and sped away amidst the hurrahs of the multitude.