sting shed, in front
of which Seaton donned a heavy leather harness, buckled about his
shoulders, body and legs; to which were attached numerous handles,
switches, boxes and other pieces of apparatus. He snapped the switch
which started the Tesla coil in the shed and pressed a button on an
instrument in his hand, attached to his harness by a small steel cable.
Instantly there was a creak of straining leather and he shot vertically
into the air for perhaps a hundred feet, where he stopped and remained
motionless for a few moments. Then the watchers saw him point his arm
and dart in the direction in which he pointed. By merely pointing,
apparently, he changed his direction at will; going up and down, forward
and backward, describing circles and loops and figures of eight. After a
few minutes of this display he descended, slowing up abruptly as he
neared the ground and making an easy landing.

"There, oh beauteous lady and esteemed sirs," he began, with a low bow
and a sweeping flourish--when there was a snap, and he was jerked
sidewise off his feet. In bowing, his cumbersome harness had pressed the
controlling switch and the instrument he held in his hand, which
contained the power-plant, or bar, had torn itself loose from its
buckle. Instead of being within easy reach of his hand it was over six
feet away, and was dragging him helplessly after it, straight toward the
high stone wall! But only momentarily was he helpless, his keen mind
discovering a way out of the predicament even as he managed to scramble
to his feet in spite of the rapid pace. Throwing his body sidewise and
reaching out his long arm as far as possible toward the bar, he
succeeded in swinging it around so that he was running back toward the
party and the spacious landing field. Dorothy and her father were
standing motionless, staring at Seaton; the former with terror in her
eyes, the latter in blank amazement. Crane had darted to the switch
controlling the coil, and was reaching for it when Seaton passed them.

"Don't touch that switch!" he yelled. "I'll catch that thing yet!"

At this evidence that Seaton still thought himself master of the
situation, Crane began to laugh, though he still kept his hand near the
controlling switch. Dorothy, relieved of her fear for her lover's
safety, could not help but join him, so ludicrous were Seaton's antics.
The bar was straight out in front of him, about five feet above the
ground, going somewhat faster than a m