Il8 EYE SPY 
soon swaying about in the breeze. So buoyant 
has it now become that the little spider is vis- 
ibly drawn upward, and now clings barely by 
his tip- toes. In another second he is off on 
his travels, where few could follow him even 
if they would. But this we must do if we 
would see the true "balloon," with its basket 
and rigging and captain all in perfect sailing 
trim. 
Up to the point of ascension to utter a Hi- 
bernianism I have often thus followed my bal- 
loonist, but at this point I willingly yield the 
pursuit to a more competent witness, one whose 
recognized fame as the historian of the whole 
spider fraternity needs no emphasis from me. 
They have kept very few of their secrets from the 
Rev. Dr. McCook. He has followed them even 
in their flight, and has brought back all the tricks 
of their navigation. To have been able to de- 
scribe as an eye-witness not only the ascension, 
but the subsequent alert and skilful rigging, trim- 
ming of ship, sailing, reefing, and final anchoring 
in port of this aeronaut with the silken jib, as Dr. 
McCook has done, acquiring his facts through a 
wild pantomime in the meadows, which for a time 
risked his reputation for sanity, is a triumph of 
patient investigation which deserves conspicuous 
acknowledgment. 
Here is what the doctor observed while his 
