d's sake, loo

r lake. As soon as Swift had recovered from the first bound of the balloon he had scanned the dark mist, and by the borders of the lake he had found a rift. This

you mean," stammered Mr. Statis

may politely call sang-froid, but what is known in common North American as simple "cheek." Besides, in some sections of

. It's

member of the Planet corps hurriedly. "Can't we stop, prof

estion, pulled the safety valve, an

I struck Empiria? Darned lucky for me they didn't take stoc

er. The travellers cast their eyes upon the sullen bosom of the Gopher lake. This body of water glittered like the s

. Ticks, absent-mindedly of the professor.

f chilly air smote them. Then gently the balloon sw

answered the professor, still bent upon his grievance. "Now

Mr. Ticks, with

electric sewing machines, electric elevators, electric table service in the hotel; worst was, they had electric cabs. They kept quiet about

. "I have heard about those cabs, but I have had

one in front, two behind. The driver, he sits in front and steers the shebang with the forward wheel. I hadn't gone two blocks when I leaned out of

stem work otherwise?" asked Mr.

opped by the Humane Society. A man would drop a wet sponge on the dog's head, another on his back, and turn on the circuit. They generally both dropped and never knew what struck 'em. Two dead dogs better than one fight. But they kept it all dark enough. These were jest experim

le omission on the ground that there were so many new competing Western cities, each with its peculiar advantages: and that there were so many strange electrical inventions new each day, that he had over

produced if coal was exc

th wings, each as big as the High Tariff, were the first t

ing in the middle of the lake!" Swift pulled the professor over

above the lake. Directly below them was something resting upon the waters. It looked fixe

lasses here?" asked S

one of Steward's fiel

, after a prolonged examination. "No-Great

sor took a

re right. She

ed," insisted Swift.

ling dignity; "being a woman, she demands our attention, and, besides, as a

lish business. Supposing we drift into the deadly air. I don't know what that vapor means,

out Swift, peremptorily, "it'

a go. I can sta

owness, obedient to its master's hand, descended toward the Great Go

hed the little boat, Mr. T

unmarried," said

watched the figure of the woman attentively with the spyglass. It was

. The statistics of this section of the West show tha

r. She lay with her head propped in the bow, so stiffly and so still that to all appearance she wa

orant how hard it is even for an experienced hand to climb up and down

spoke sharply. By this time they wer

safety-valve and at the same time, grabbing a sand-bag. "If you stir out

et above the boat, but, O horrors! It was also nearly fifty feet to one side of the boat-no human

Was it a dream? Was this apparition a final terror added to her awful experience, sent to crush out the last remnant of her buoyant life and magnificent

come to save you!" He could not think of anything more to sa

d few delicate scruples,

with the High Tarif

had penetrated even to the Great Gopher lake, and it rea

with feminine instinct tried to coil her hair and otherwise prepar

ch?" yelled

ice undaunted, though en

ndering orders about safety-valves and ballast, and cautiously, but wit

seemed hours before the professor reached the last of t

to the young la

e while longer an

an's trembling voice seemed to lay an actual emphasis o

have you b

. I am nea

himself. Tears of sympathy came in

daily," said Mr. Ticks after anothe

w?" asked Swift

and a yellow pad in her lap; besides, there a

Ariel had reached the l

rope with sure skill. It whistled throug

o something,

slightly and righted itself. The High Tariff was slowly settling to the wat

th of hope, and actually brought it up. The skiff yielded to the professor's clutch. By

he ordered. This gentle lightin

" he cried, "hold out your arms instead!" He knotted the rope

u keep cool, and we'll save you al

sandbags!" the order cam

e in his life, confused. He pulled the safety-valve wide open, and the gas rushed furiously out. Even w

mistake at a glance.

se that valve

chief was a

for his awful error, reached over his thin arms. The girl arose, tottering to her feet, and, with a mighty effort, the gray, gaunt man lifted the heavy girl into the car. That was the

ything!" howle

and there in confusion. There was strange atmospheric howling in the distance, approaching nearer and nearer. The water assumed that angry hue it takes to itself before a desperate st

d Swift, looking an

thing, and chuck 'em over like lightning, and