wheels, fiery serpents, bouquets, Roman candles
and rockets, old Frosty and Mrs. Frosty (otherwise the Signorina
Ippolita di Castelli) came on the small platform to do their
knife-throwing-act, the knives trailing fiery tails. This kept the
audience entertained during the time necessary to prepare the Columbia
act.

"Bet you'd be scared to do that," whispered Eddie Beach.

"Bet I wouldn't," Gess made answer. "I'd jest as soon sling them old
knives--Mr. La Rue said me an' Tell was likely boys to train. I bet
Ally'd hold as still as the Signorina 'f I was to throw them knives at
her."

For the Columbia performance Gilbert had, during the day, stretched
another wire about five feet and three inches above the big wire on
which Minnie was to walk. Indeed, it was this secondary wire which had
caused the eruption of old Frosty demanding to "know."

When the knife-throwing act was finished, there was a short pause
followed by a little murmur of applause; and this grew louder and
louder, until it was a medley of whoops, yells, stamping, and calls in
every tone and key for the next act--the grand stroke of the
performance. Frosty and the Signorina forbore to go upon the roof of the
Roundup to receive Minnie, until they should see her start from the roof
of the hotel.

Figures were seen upon the top of the Wagon-Tire House (both roofs were
flat) and Frosty strained his eyes eagerly toward that end of the big
wire. The wondering children drew back and refrained even from
whispering among themselves--Troy's caution was not needed. Strange
doings, indeed, were going forward about the end of the wire. Troy
Gilbert was apparently pushing a reluctant figure toward it--it looked
as though the person were tied, and he laughed and struck her when she
seemed unwilling.

Finally, Columbia began to move out slowly along the wire. She was
everything that audience or proprietor could desire. The spiked tiara
was on her head, blazing with violet light. Down her back hung her fair
curling hair; in her hands was the long balancing pole--Columbia's
scepter of power; and her white draperies were illuminated with fires of
blue and crimson and violet.

The children stared, silent, motionless, expectant. They were nearer
than those in the street and had had opportunity to observe the
irregularity of Columbia's launching.

There was a little outburst of applause when she first appeared. But as
she moved out over the wire, the silence was so c