strength, I ventured to peep over the side of the car, and take a view of our environment. We had emerged from the stratum of cloud, and were descending with velocity to the earth, getting into thicker air, and I, at least, owing to its influence, beginning to feel in better spirits. My grief, if continued until doomsday, could not recall Julius to life; and I determined to seek relief from my misery by letting my mind dwell on other subjects. I looked out upon the surrounding landscape, and was delighted with the scene. Though still about ten thousand feet above the ground, the rocky hills, plains, and rivers came distinctly to my view. If, I reflected, the immortal soul of man shall be permitted to soar in this way, not only through the regions of the atmosphere, but into the remotest recesses of space, to have the privilege of surveying Jupiter and his satellites within the distance of a hundred miles, or perching on one of Saturn's rings, or flying through the labyrinth of coloured stars at the Southern Cross—what an existence it will be! But it is vain to call the attention of men to these things; give them what they desire most on earth, that is all they care about.
As we approached nearer to our destination I began to recognise several important landmarks which had but lately become familiar to me. Lakes Sorell and Crescent, and the two Arthur's Lakes, I knew from their close proximity to each other; the Wild-dog Mountain, the Wild Horse of the Great Lake, the Ironstone, the Split Rock, and lo! my lovely mirror, the Great Lake itself; the evening sun, shining through a rift in the clouds, lighting it up with a rosy glow exactly like that of the Star of Victory. It was a magnificent picture of fairyland itself.
Obeltub, notwithstanding his forbidding exterior, was a very skilful balloon-driver; the Demon could not have suited himself better had he searched the whole universe for a driver or a murderer. He now steered his formidable
