It had not even appeared necessary in that horrible weather to place a guard in the square, in the midst of which plunged the balloon.

Everything favored the departure of the prisoners, but what might possibly be the termination of the hazardous voyage they contemplated in the midst of the furious elements ?-- "Dirty weather!" exclaimed Pencroft, fixing his hat firmly on his head with a blow of his fist; "but pshaw, we shall succeed all the same!" At half-past nine, Harding and his companions glided from different directions into the square, which the gas-lamps, extinguished by the wind, had left in total obscurity.

Even the enormous balloon, almost beaten to the ground, could not be seen.

Independently of the sacks of ballast, to which the cords of the net were fastened, the car was held by a strong cable passed through a ring in the pavement.

The five prisoners met by the car.