ofessor's judgment, for the Rideau River, flowing by the grounds,
offered an obstacle that could be overcome only with the help of canoes
and tow-lines; and to paddle a big balloon across a river, a
fresh-filled, hard-tugging balloon, is not a thing to be undertaken
lightly. And in spite of all their skill these Indians found themselves
presently lifted into the air, canoes and all (oh, they were badly
frightened Indians!), not quite clear of the water, but high enough to
make it doubtful if they would ever reach shore, and highly interesting
to the crowd which pressed down to the river, even into the river, in
well-meant efforts to help, and dragged the balloon up the bank and
along toward the platform with such eagerness that they tore great rents
in it that let out the gas in volumes.

In an instant, as happens in crowds, the balloon became the center of a
struggling mass of people, who slowly pressed in from all sides to see
what the matter was. Now, when twenty-five thousand people are all
pressing slowly toward one point, it is apt to fare ill with those at
that point; and had not Carlotta acted on a flash of inspiration there
would surely have been disaster in that merciless crush. She looked over
the shouting, swaying multitude, and in a second saw the danger--saw
women held helpless and fainting in that jam of bodies; saw one way, and
only one, to save the situation, and took that way. Stepping off the
platform, she ran lightly and swiftly over heads and shoulders, packed
solid, and came to the balloon. Such was the people's fright that they
scarcely felt her pass.

"You can't go up," cried her husband; "the balloon is a wreck."

"I must go up," she answered; "if I don't these people will be crushed
to death."

"There's a hole in her big enough to drive a team through," he
protested; but already she was in the basket, and a great cheer arose.

[Illustration: "IN SPITE OF ALL THEIR SKILL THESE INDIANS FOUND
THEMSELVES PRESENTLY LIFTED INTO THE AIR, CANOES AND ALL."]

"It's better to risk one life than many," she answered with decision,
and, turning to the crowd, motioned them to loose the car. In their
wonder the mad multitude forgot their fear, and the struggling quieted.
All eyes were now on the balloon; one woman's courage had quelled the
panic. The danger to the crowd was past, to the woman just beginning.

"Wait a moment," shouted Professor Myers; "you must have more ballast."
But in the din of voice