g the bag over now. There! He's struck something, by the way he
grabs! It's a letter, fellows, as sure as you live!"

"A letter from the skies! Tell me about that, will you!" whistled Jerry
as he bounded ashore and hurried to join Frank.

"What's doing?" he asked anxiously, as he came to where the other was
standing, staring at the piece of paper he held in his hand.

"Remarkable! Who would ever have believed it?" Frank was saying.

"Well, please take pity on the rest of us, and let us have a little
light," Will broke out with.

"It came from the _Kentucky_, fellows!" Frank observed, shaking his head,
as if he could hardly believe his senses.

"That was the name of the balloon our good friend, Professor Jason
Smythe, expected to pilot in the drift from Atlanta to Savannah, to test
the air currents."

This from Jerry, who was equally amazed.

"How do you know?" asked Bluff, of course, since he never accepted
anything without abundant proof.

"The name is sewed on the bag. I found it underneath. But there was
something more, boys--this letter, written, with others of the same kind,
and sent down in the hope that one of them might fall into the hands of
some person who would notify the government station at Pensacola or Cedar
Keys."

"Read it to us, Frank!"

"Yes, don't keep us in suspense. Besides, if we're going to do anything,
we'd better not waste so much time here," Jerry remarked wisely.

"Then listen. Here is what it says, scribbled so that I can hardly make
it out:

* * * * *

"'On board the balloon _Kentucky_, and drifting toward the gulf. Our
valve refuses to work, and we dare not attempt to land in the dark.
Ballast nearly gone. We fear we may be swept out to sea. Please notify
station at Pensacola to send assistance--a tug, if possible. We may keep
afloat a short time if we fall into the gulf.

"'JASON SMYTHE.'"

* * * * *

The boys looked awed at the remarkable coincidence of that sand bag,
possibly thrown out at random, striking their tent; and they who knew
the professor so well.

"But, come, fellows! We must be off! Leave these few things here till we
get back. To save that daring aeronaut's life I'd sacrifice ten times
as much!" cried Frank as he leaped aboard the boat and started the motor,
while the others tore loose the two remaining hawsers.

CHAPTER XXIII

A DASH UPON THE GULF

"How About it, Frank? Ought