A few more preliminaries were settled with the friendly jeweller, and then, prior to going to their hotel for dinner, our amateur detectives went to see the balloon ascent, which was to take place at six o’clock. There was a tolerable muster in the enclosure, and considerable local interest seemed to be shown in the event. The aeronaut was a man of great experience, and had an assistant in whom he had every confidence. The conversation with the jeweller had taken up so much time that our two friends only arrived a few minutes before the order to “leave go” was given, and had not seen many of the preparations. Besides the aeronaut and his assistants, the car was to contain two passengers, both of whom had paid ten pounds for the privilege, and neither of whom had ever been up in a balloon before. Some of the onlookers were betting upon the results, and there was considerable diversity of opinion as to where the descent would take place. Presently the ropes were let loose, and the ponderous machine rose rapidly into the air, amid the plaudits of the assembled crowd. Mr. Cory was looking on quietly, when his interest became suddenly excited by one of the objects which bobbed over the edge of the car. He looked at Annie in astonishment, to note that she also was gazing breathlessly at the now fast rising balloon. “We have him at last!” whispered Mr. Cory, joyfully. “God be thanked, Harley will soon be free!” said Annie, the tears of joy running down her cheeks. Perhaps their confidence was rather premature, but it was easy to comprehend. For they had both recognised one of the faces looking down at them as that of Hugh Stavanger. CHAPTER IX. A BALLOON ADVENTURE. Mr. Blume, the chief mate of the ss. “Centurion,” was pacing the bridge in anything but an angelic mood, which evidenced itself in perpetual growls at everybody with whom he came into contact. The objects of his displeasure, seeing no adequate reason for it, were not disposed to take his fault-finding too meekly, the result being that the atmosphere on board the “Centurion” was decidedly unpleasant. “I’ll bet my bottom dollar that the mate got jilted last time he was in port,” remarked the second mate to the third engineer, both being off watch together. “What makes you think that?” “Oh, lots of things. He was as jolly as any of us when we first got in, and was perfectly killing when he went ashore to see Lottie, as he always has done whenever we have been in Cardiff. He came back much sooner than usual, in a vile temper, and hardly ever went ashore again. Since we left he has been awfully ill-natured, and I am sure Lottie is at the bottom of it.” “Perhaps she’s ill.”