as standing between Owen and Harry near
the rapidly filling bag.

"I wish I could talk to him, too--he's so cute and hippety-hoppy,"
she said.

Owen stepped to Panatella's side.

"Would you permit the young lady to see the balloon basket?" he asked.

"With pleasure," said the airman after a glance at Pauline. He led the
way to the basket, and helped Pauline up so that she could look at the
equipment, the anchor with its long coil of rope, the sand bags and
water bottles.

She was plainly fascinated as Panatella explained the manner of his
flight and his drop through the air. As she saw them attach the basket
to the tugging bag she was thrilled.

At this moment there was a flurry of excitement on the outskirts of the
crowd. A horseman on a beautiful bay mount, that was evidently
unmanageable, came plunging and swerving down the field.

The crowd broke and scattered in front of the menacing hoofs that flew
in the air as the vicious animal reared.

The horseman, clad in a somewhat threadbare riding suit, was a small
man with beady black eyes that turned from side to side as he swayed in
his saddle. He seemed to be afraid of his mount and to be looking for
help. But it was remarkable that apparently so poor a rider held his
seat and actually managed to bring the beast to a nervous stand some
fifty yards from the balloon.

The little man looked around over the heads of the crowd. He caught
sight of Owen beside Pauline near the balloon basket. The lifting of
his riding cap might or might not have been a salute and signal.

"Oh, I wish I hadn't promised Harry not to go up. I know Signor
Panatella would take me," sighed Pauline.

Harry had turned away to watch the actions of the strange horseman.

"You might scare him a little," Owen suggested.

Those words were the greatest risk he had taken in all his deeply laid
plots.

Pauline caught at the suggestion eagerly. She sprang lightly from the
little platform into the balloon car.

A murmur of mingled astonishment, applause and alarm rose from the
crowd. Two of the workmen were cutting the last ropes that held the
basket to earth. Ten others were holding it with their hands awaiting
the airman.

Panatella purposely delayed the moment of mounting the basket. The
tugging of the huge balloon against the strength of a dozen men gave
impress to his feat, and he liked the state of suspense.

But the sound from the surprised throng called his attention n