eared as if they would never come
down again. The Green Dragon rose very high, and must have astonished
the birds and beasts of the field, if it did not the human beings in the
valley below. The Silver Knight also played his part well up in the
skies, so did the General, and many others. Up, up went the Green
Dragon, and high soared the Silver Knight; Excelsior was his motto; but
high as he went, the Green Dragon went higher.

"Hilloa, Bracebridge, you and your friend should have chosen a different
motto for your knight, for the Green Dragon is beating him, and the old
Owl is not far behind," exclaimed Lemon, who, while manoeuvring his
kite, found himself not far from Ernest.

"Stay a bit," answered Ernest, in a good-natured tone; "perhaps our
knight may yet prove that his motto was not ill-chosen. We have not yet
got to the end of our line."

Monsieur Malin kept easing out his line, and his monster went slowly
upward, but it was evident that the weight of string it had already to
bear was almost too much for it, and that it would not carry much more.
It was a brave dragon, however, and in the French master's skilful
hands, it is extraordinary how high it got up. At last it was evident
that it was stationary, and required a great deal of manoeuvring to be
kept at the height it had attained.

"Now, Bracebridge," cried Ellis, who had worked the Silver Knight up
almost as high, "let me have your line."

"All right," answered Bracebridge, hauling down his kite till it was
within thirty feet of the ground. "Hook on."

On this Ellis brought the end of his line up to Bracebridge, who
fastened it to the string of the Squire, which immediately shot upward,
while higher and higher flew the Silver Knight. He reached the Green
Dragon, and floated proudly past him. Up he went, higher and higher,
till a glittering spot could alone be seen in the blue heavens. Shouts
of applause broke from the spectators.

"Now," cried Bracebridge triumphantly, "has not our knight chosen his
motto with judgment, Excelsior? See, up he goes higher and higher."

Higher he did go, indeed; and in a short time the glittering spot was
lost to view.

"We could easily get our Squire out of sight also, if we could find a
line light enough and strong enough to bear the strain of the two kites
together, but no string we have got here could bear the strain that
would be put upon it," observed Ernest to those who came round to
observe the wonde