r which had been wrought.

Some declared that it was not fair, and that they had no right to fasten
the string of one kite to that of another.

"Oh! that's all nonsense, and you fellows know it well," answered
Ernest. "The question to be decided is, which kite can reach the
farthest from the earth, and ours has done so. Unless another gets
higher, we shall win the prize."

No other kite got even so high as the Green Dragon, so the Silver Knight
was most justly declared to be the winner of the prize.

"Froggy Malin's and those fellows' kites may fly high, but they will not
be able to pull anything along," growled out Blackall. "Before they
think that they are going to carry off all the prizes, let us see what
my kite can do. He looks like a strong, tough fellow, who can pull hard
at all events."

Dawson and a few of Blackall's admirers echoed these sentiments, fully
believing that he did not boast without reason of what he would do.

The carriages were now brought forward from a chalk-pit, where they had
been concealed, and formed a line in front of the spectators.
Blackall's was certainly the largest, and not the least gay and gaudy,
but more than one person smiled at the notion of its being dragged along
by a single kite. None of the carriages could boast of much beauty, but
some were very finely painted, and were admired accordingly. When
Ernest brought out his vehicle, it was much laughed at, for it had such
an odd, spider-like, skeleton look. Still the knowing ones acknowledged
that it might have a great deal of go in it.

Most of the line of the kites was now hauled in and wound up. Ernest
and Ellis got down the Silver Knight, and fastened some light lines to
each of his wings, and brought them down to the carriage. Two or three
boys stood round each carriage holding it. At a signal, given by Lemon
on his horn, to prepare, they all jumped in. At another, all hands were
taken off the carriages, and away most of them went at a fair speed.
One did not move--it was Blackall's. Who could picture his wrath and
indignation? He pulled and pulled at the line; the kite rose somewhat,
but wavered about terribly: now it darted to one side, now to the other.

"Come along, Blackall, come along," shouted several of the racers, as
they moved on, and left him trying all sorts of useless experiments to
make the kite pull and the carriage move. Neither one nor the other
could he accomplish. Shouts of laughter r