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 utt^r 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 



