I
don't care much where. If there is any where that you wish to go, I will
go with you. Come, I will put myself entirely at your disposal. Let us
see what you can do to give me a ride and entertain me."

Rollo was very much pleased indeed with this proposal. He decided
instantly what he would do. He had seen that morning an _affix_, as the
French call it, that is, a placard posted on a wall among a hundred
others, setting forth that there was to be a balloon ascension that
afternoon at the Hippodrome, at three o'clock, to be followed by various
equestrian performances. Rollo immediately mentioned this to his father,
and asked him if he should be willing to go there. His father said that
he should; adding, that he would like to see the balloon go up very
much.

"Then when we come home," said Rollo, "you must ride slowly along
through the Elysian Fields, and let me see the booths, and the games
that they are playing there."

"Very well," said his father; "I will take some newspapers with me, and
I will sit still in the carriage while you go and see the booths and the
games."

This plan being thus resolved upon, and all arranged, Alfred was
summoned and ordered to get the carriage ready, and to put the top down.
When Alfred reported that the carriage was at the door, Mr. Holiday and
Rollo went down and got in, and were soon in the midst of the stream of
equipages that were going up the grand avenue of the Elysian Fields.
They arrived at the Hippodrome in time to get an excellent seat, and
they remained there two hours. They saw the balloon, with a man and
young girl in the car below it, rise majestically into the air, and soar
away until it was out of sight. The fearless aeronauts seemed entirely
at their ease while they were ascending to the dizzy height. They sat in
the car waving banners and throwing down bouquets of flowers as long as
they could be seen.

After this there was a series of performances with horses, which
delighted Rollo very much. Troops of men came out upon the arena,
mounted on beautiful chargers, and armed with lances and coats of mail,
as in ancient times. After riding their elegantly caparisoned horses
round and round the ring several times, they formed into squadrons and
attacked each other with their lances in sham battles. After this,
fences of hurdles were put up across the course, in various places, and
girls, mounted on beautiful white horses and elegantly dressed, rode
around, leaping