'I've been thinking, Snap,' he said. 'Yes?' interrupted Snap, 'perhaps you have; I should get a better chance of sleeping if you didn't think so loud.' 'Never mind, sonny, I dare say I do breathe a bit hard at times, but I never knowed a "high-blower" yet as wasn't a good horse; what I was a-goin' to say is that if you mean goin' in that consarn I'll come along. If you ever did get down again to prairie level, you'd be like babies without Dick Wharton to tote you round.' Snap was not going to argue about his reasons, it was enough for him that his old friend would come; so he sat up and shook hands upon it, clinching the bargain there and then. Another day dawned, and saw the sun rise up and sink far towards the west again, before old Wharton gave up all hope of relief. He had been peering steadily down on the encampment for a couple of hours before he turned to Snap with: 'Sonny, it's got to be done. Them Redskins have almost got over their skeer, and I guess poor Warwolf has been tortured and scalped by this time.' 'Yes, Dick,' said Snap quietly; 'then suppose we get ready.' 'Why, what is there to do, pard, except get right in and go?' asked his companion. 'Well, first of all we must try whether the balloon will carry us all. She certainly won't unless we take some of the cargo out.' 'All right, bear a hand, Towzer. You are boss of this show, Snap,' was the reply. Snap climbed into the car and handed out the instruments and a bag or two of sand, the balloon straining wildly at its moorings as he did so. 'Come in with me, Frank,' he cried, 'and help me steady her.' Frank climbed in. 'Now, Towzer!' Snap added; and Towzer joined the other two. 'That is very nearly a load, I think,' said Snap, 'and there won't be much fear of our going up too high when Dick gets in.' 'No,' said Frank, 'we had better throw out something more.' 'Very well,' said Snap, throwing out everything he could lay his hands on, 'but if it won't carry us now I don't know what we shall do. Come on, Dick.' Dick stepped in, and still the balloon strained upwards. 'She'll fly all right,' cried Towzer. 'Then cut the cord and take care that you don't roll out,' commanded Snap. The cord was cut, and suddenly the earth and the mountain peak began to recede from the balloon. At least so it seemed to the boys. As for the balloon, it seemed exactly poised in the air, steady as an eagle on widespread wings, and even as they sat and gazed the earth drew back and faded until it was gone, and they hung alone, in a sad and absolute silence, whither no voice of bird or insect ever penetrated.