hing us as we
rose higher and higher, and floated away over the roofs of the houses.

The sensation, I must admit, was a pleasant one, and, despite a slight
feeling of nervousness (which, however, young Sutcliffe did not appear
to share), I quite enjoyed the journey to my flat.

There were, fortunately, but very few people about, and we arrived at
the door without attracting much attention.

One nervous old lady, at whose feet we descended somewhat suddenly, did
threaten to call the police--saying rather angrily that "What with
motor-cars and such-like," she "didn't know what we were a-coming to,
and it wasn't safe for a respectable lady to walk about the streets,
what with one thing and another."

I managed, however, to soothe her ruffled feelings, and, rolling the rug
up carefully, we went up to the flat. I threw myself into a chair in the
study, thoroughly tired out and not a little bewildered by the strange
events of the morning.

Lionel, however, was full of excitement, and eager to be off again for a
ride on the marvellous Magic Carpet.

"I say! you know! but it's the rippingest thing I've ever heard of. Why,
we'll be able to go anywhere. Just think what an awful lot we'll save in
railway fares and cabs and those sort of things. I suppose anybody can
use it?" he inquired, turning to Shin Shira.

"Oh yes, of course," declared the little Yellow Dwarf, "so long as you
say, out loud, where you want to go to."

"Oh! Do let's go out again--just for a little while," pleaded Lionel.
"Can't we go to Gammage's? He lives over at Wimbledon. It's quite easy
to get to, and it won't take long. We could be back to lunch, and I
should _so_ like him to see the Magic Carpet. Do come, sir."

"No," I replied, shaking my head, "I'm too tired. You two can go if you
like, only be back in an hour and a half."

"Oh, jolly!" cried Lionel. "Come on, please--let's start at once."

And he picked up the carpet under his arm.

"I think it would attract less attention if, instead of starting from
the pavement, we went out of the window," said Shin Shira. "What do you
say?"

"By all means," I replied, "if you think best," for you see, having
ridden on it myself, I felt perfectly safe in trusting my young cousin
on the Magic Carpet, and I felt sure that Shin Shira would not let him
come to any harm.

So we opened the window, and a minute later the two were gaily floating
away out of sight, both energetically waving their pocket-han