flew open, and within could be seen polished wheels and other portions
of a complicated machinery. The old man next applied the blaze of the
lamp to some spirits within, and in a very few minutes particles of
steam could be seen to escape from the eagle's nostrils. The wizard
touched another spring, and the enormous bird strode out and paused in
the centre of the area.

"If you would behold the home of your youth, be it whithersoever it
may, so that you name it, follow me, and your eyes shall gaze upon
that spot within a few hours," said the sage, as the wings of the
stupendous eagle slowly unfolded, and rising to a horizontal position,
uncovered a transparency in the side of the chest, through which could
be seen a gorgeous couch within, sufficiently ample to contain two
men, and separate from the fire and machinery by a partition of
isinglass.

"Come!" exclaimed the sage, opening the tortoise-shell door under the
wing, and stepping into the couch.

"Don't do any such thing!" said Joe.

"Ha! ha! ha! Do you think it can fly, Joe?" remarked Glenn, laughing.

"It _will_ fly!" said the old man, emphatically; "and I charge you to
be prepared to ascend beyond the clouds, if you have the courage to
occupy a portion of my couch."

"Though I cannot believe it will rise at your bidding," replied Glenn,
"yet, should it do so, I must be permitted to regard you as being only
flesh and blood, and as such, I do not hesitate to venture as much as
another mortal will;" Baying which, our hero seated himself beside the
reputed fire-wizard.

The old man closed the door, and drawing forth a small compass (his
companion intimating the course,) adjusted several screws within
convenient reach, accordingly; he then pressed a small lever with his
foot, and the wings, after quivering a moment, flapped quickly, and
the great eagle darted almost perpendicularly up in the air, and was
beyond the reach of vision in a very few seconds!

When a certain height was attained, the wizard turned the bird in the
course indicated by his companion.

"What think you now of the fire-wizard!" demanded the sage, with an
air of triumph.

"Still that he is a man--but a great one--and this, the perfection of
his art, the greatest extent the Supreme Being has permitted the mind
of a man to attain!" replied Glenn, gazing in admiration at the
countries far below, which he was passing with the velocity of a
hurricane.

"And still you fear not!" demanded t