were beginning to descend. Little was resigned but firm.

"If the silk gives way, then we are lost. Unfortunately I have no
rope nor material for binding it."

The woman's instinct had arrived at the same conclusion sooner than
the man's reason. But she was hesitating over a detail.

"Will you go down the rope for a moment?" she said, with a sweet
smile.

Little went down. Presently she called to him. She held something
in her hand,--a wonderful invention of the seventeenth century,
improved and perfected in this: a pyramid of sixteen circular hoops
of light yet strong steel, attached to each other by cloth bands.

With a cry of joy Little seized them, climbed to the balloon, and
fitted the elastic hoops over its conical end. Then he returned to
the car.

"We are saved."

Lady Caroline, blushing, gathered her slim but antique drapery
against the other end of the car.


CHAPTER X.


They were slowly descending. Presently Lady Caroline distinguished