nine o’clock
At last the moment of final leave-taking arrived . The captain and his officers embraced their dauntless friends with great feeling , not excepting even Joe , who , worthy fellow , was as proud and happy as a prince . Every one in the party insisted upon having a final shake of the doctor 's hand . At nine o'clock the three travellers got into their car . The doctor lit the combustible in his cylinder and turned the flame so as to produce a rapid heat , and the balloon , which had rested on the ground in perfect equipoise , began to rise in a few minutes , so that the seamen had to slacken the ropes they held it by . The car then rose about twenty feet above their heads . `` My friends ! ''