do ignore a single one that's
the very one all our friends will tell us we should certainly have seen.
But my eyes are growing tired, there's a congestion in the back of my
head, and these polished floors have stiffened my ankles. Besides, we've
plenty of time, and we can come back as often as we wish."

"I suppose then that we must go," said Mr. Anson, reluctantly. "But one
should make the most of the opportunities for culture, vouchsafed to
him."

John made no reply. He had heard that note so often. Mr. Anson was
tremendous on "culture", and John thought it all right for him and
others like him, but he preferred his own methods for himself. He led
the way from the gallery and the older man followed reluctantly.

The sun, having gone behind the clouds, stayed there and Dresden was
still gray, but John liked it best in its sober colors. Then the homely
touch, the friendly feeling in the air were stronger. These people were
much like his own. Many of them could have passed for Americans, and
they welcomed as brethren those who came from beyond the Atlantic.

He looked from the Bruhl Terraces over the Elbe--a fine river too he
thought it--the galleries, the palaces, the opera house, the hotels, and
all the good gray city, beloved of English and Americans as well as
Germans.

"What is that buzzing and whirring, John?" asked Mr. Anson suddenly.

"Look up! Always look up, when you hear that sound, and you will see the
answer to your question written in the skies! There it goes! It's
passing over the portion of the city beyond the river."

The long black shape of the Zeppelin dirigible was outlined clearly, as
it moved off swiftly toward the southwest. It did not seem to diminish
in size, as it left the city, but hung huge and somber against the sky,
its whirr and buzz still audible.

"An interesting toy," said Mr. Anson.

"If a toy, it's certainly a gigantic one," said John.

"Tremendous in size, but a toy nevertheless."

"We're going up in it you know."

"Are you still bent upon that wild flight?"

"Why there's no danger. Herr Simmering, the proprietor of our hotel,
chartered a dirigible last week, and took up all the guests who were
willing to pay and go. I've talked to some of them and they say it was a
wonderful experience. You remember that he's chartered another for next
week, and you promised me we could go."

"Yes, I promised, but I thought at the time that something would surely
happen to prevent i