a balloon
then, and if it were a balloon afterwards, when did she change? At any
rate the light below was sufficient to see well until she was forty or
fifty feet up, and after that she shone out, and we never lost sight of
her until she was ever so high. I can understand the pictures, because
there might have been a magic lantern somewhere, but that girl trick,
and the basket trick, and that great snake are altogether beyond me."

"So I should imagine, Wilson," the Doctor said dryly; "and if I were you
I would not bother my head about it.. Nobody has succeeded in finding
out any of them yet, and all the wondering in the world is not likely to
get you any nearer to it."

"That is what I feel, Doctor, but it is very riling to see things that
you can't account for anyhow. I wish he had sent up Richards on the pole
instead of the girl. I would not have minded going up myself if he had
asked me, though I expect I should have jumped off before it got up very
far, even at the risk of breaking my neck."

"I should not mind risking that," the Doctor said, "though I doubt
whether I should have known any more about it when I came down; but
these jugglers always bring a girl or a boy with them instead of calling
somebody out from the audience, as they do at home. Well, if things are
quiet we will organize another hunt, Wilson. I have heard of a tiger
fifteen miles away from where we killed our last, and you and Richards
shall go with me if you like."

"I should like it of all things, Doctor, provided it comes off by day.
I don't think I care about sitting through another night on a tree, and
then not getting anything like a fair shot at the beast after all."

"We will go by day," the Doctor said. "Bathurst has promised to get some
elephants from one of the Zemindars; we will have a regular party this
time. I have half promised Miss Hannay she shall have a seat in a howdah
with me if the Major will give her leave, and in that case we will send
out tents and make a regular party of it. What do you say, Major?"

"I am perfectly willing, Doctor, and have certainly no objection to
trusting Isobel to your care. I know you are not likely to miss."

"No, I am not likely to miss, certainly; and besides, there will be
Wilson and Richards to give him the coup de grace if I don't finish
him."

There was a general laugh, for the two subalterns had been chaffed a
good deal at both missing the tiger on the previous occasion.

"Well, wh