The view is immense, as
fine as the best in the Alps."
"Pretty ingenious plan, that balloon of yours," continued the doctor,
still looking black.
"Thank you," Hall replied, more suavely than ever. "I've been planning
that a long time. You probably don't know that mountaineering used to
be my chief amusement."
The doctor turned away without pursuing the conversation.
"I could kick myself," Hall muttered as soon as Dr. Syx was out of
earshot. "If my absurd wish to outdo others had not blinded me, I
should have known that he would see us going up this side of the peak,
particularly with the balloon to give us away. However, what's done
can't be undone. He may not really suspect the truth, and if he does
he can't help himself, even though he is the richest man in the
world."
XI
STRANGE FATE OF A KITE
"Are you ready for another tramp?" was Andrew Hall's greeting when we
met early on the morning following our return from the peak.
"Certainly I am. What is your programme for to-day?"
"I wish to test the flying qualities of a kite which I have
constructed since our return last night.
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