“It must be far better,” said one of the spectators, “to travel in a car like that, than to be working your wings in the air.” “A thing of beauty.” “The greatest invention of the century.” “It moves as easily as a bird,” were some of the various sentences that were spoken enthusiastically as the object drew nearer. “Shall we ride in it?” quickly asked Mr. World as he turned to the little group at his side. The new companions who so recently came from the King’s Highway timorously fell back at his abrupt suggestion, but Miss Church-Member offered to accompany him. As the aerial machine was stopping at the tower Mr. World and Miss Church-Member speedily exchanged words of farewell and prepared for the new ride. They were soon numbered with a host of expectant passengers on board. The lines were loosened and the weird airship cut the wind like a large bird on wing, and sped away to the pleasure grounds along the Broad Highway where most of the passengers, being blinded by sin, found such delightsome fellowship that they refused thereafter to travel on any other than the Wider Way. CHAPTER X. DARK SCHEMES OF SATAN. 1. The two companions land far down the valley on “The Midway,” whence they take the Mountain Trolley and visit the underground Schools of Suicide. 2. Satan’s primitive address on Literature. The aerial car carried Mr. World and Miss Church-Member to the far end of the Valley of Temptation where they spent a delightful season in the pleasures of sense and sight. They lingered mostly on the wide intervening space between the two paths which was known in this part of the valley as “The Midway.” Here they saw a large number of pilgrims from the King’s Highway who were engaging in one or another of the endless amusements which can be enjoyed without stepping altogether on the Broad Highway. On this long Midway humanity swarmed by millions. Some, forgetful of their vows, or regardless of their honor, stepped into the lower haunts of vice, and offered sweet flowers of purity and fragrance in exchange for dry and filthy husks from the floor of the stall. But Miss Church-Member, in keeping with her moral character, did not surrender her chastity, and although she had such continual fellowship with Mr. World she yet held the respect of many other church-members; for it was quite fashionable to belong to the church and still walk in the ways of the world. Satan, under a hellish guise, offered to give, even before death, handsome rewards to any church-member who succeeds in carrying a certain amount of the world with him on his way to Heaven, and multitudes were trying the experiment. Some, in hope of winning larger prizes, were verily loaded down with the worrying weights of the world.