PETER, PATTY, AND MR PIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 4069, 8 March 1932, Page 68

PETER, PATTY, AND MR PIP.

THE FLIGHT OF THE O’ER.

(Special for tiie Otago Witness.)

“Thats a nice balloon, Patty,” said Peter. “What arc vou going to do with it?” Qa n tty - tb ? u S ht for f moment. Then she giggled. “Wouldn’t it be a splendid idea to blow it up until it’s as big as an airship and go for a ride in the clouds?” she asked 1 “Rather!” Peter chirped. “A lovely idea!” “Impossible!” chimed in Mr Pip. “Madness!” added Kitty. “ be discouraged. They found a bicycle pump and set to work with a will, lakes a lot or any panted Peter after a time. “ But it’s getting beautifully hard,” Patty encouraged him. in plp>wl,h - "“ k at Kittr ' “ in , “ t - u i,as tw ° ioaks - wait •■»»“’«»« ha ß«t’^ h arif^ at,er Pip " ad “ cd ,wa kMta of “ ring ~

“ M™F P r» a a < ‘ tags “ g ** tlie “*>« <•» "p ™ “ Mind you don’t stick your claws in it, Kitty,” warned Mr Pip. fo^tL^ad^veltuVe. 70111 t<Jeth t 0 ™ ind my ° Wn claws '” sna PP ed who really didn’t care very «^T e v alo^?„ y °, U called P . eter ’ “ we can ’ fc wait all day while you quarrel.” «ah i ° ar fi’„ sboytod Patty, leaning over to unfasten the rope which moored the balloon to the ground d °”’ t “ •>*»«««-. ™ <>»“'> •« «. « S° Wa i r^’ ” •£ a^ n t e ? ■M' r ‘ Cheer up, Kit, you have only onet life to live.” “Nine! sniffed Kitty, with her nose in the air.

pointing jl'” xVe'llt *-« *>* «» people ™ the ground w ®. ever do g et back,” sighed Kitty dolefully. <r G /i> ® rdered Mr Pip. “You’re a complete spoil-sport when you get these moods, Kit.” • “Go’od'bve'” Sh PeJ ty ’ lean . lng °. ver tb ° balloon and waving her handkerchief to the crowd below. Pip epinSg ett the’bluoo P ’ "™ S “' ■ the X “'M - W ™ved, and the tat kick

“ Well, we’re safe so far,” remarked Mr Pip a few minutes later, when they were both swinging from the little bits of string he had tied to the balloon with Kitty’s string, making them secure. “ Now you know why I tied up those leaks, Kit! ” and he winked again. “ Clever Pip! ” admired Kitty. “ You were right. You never know what may happen to anyone who ventures out with Peter and Patty. But I wish I could catch that mooring line; then we eould get back.” “ Swing out a bit,” suggested Pip. “ And catch it as you go past.” Kitty swung, and so did the balloon. “How windy it is,” remarked Patty. “I hope we’re not going to have a gale.” She looked round. “Mercy! ” she shrieked suddenly, “where are Pip and Kitty? They’ve disappeared.” They leaned over this side and they leaned over that, but no sign of Pip and Kitty could they see. And the balloon rocked harder than ever. “ I’ve got the mooring line,” screamed Kitty from below. “ Come along, Pip, and climb on again.” The O-er gave a fearful lurch.

Pip and Kitty climbed upwards. There seemed a nice easy slope for them, and their spirits rose as they went higher. Below, the crowd clapped and shouted: “They’re on again! Good for them, the plucky ones! Hurrah!” “ Come on, Pip, we’ll soon be there,” Kitty murmured, with a smile of satisfaction. But what about Peter and Patty? Could they be having anything to do with making the slope so easy? Alas! they were, for with every moment they were sliding further and further off the balloon. To hang on any longer seemed impossible. The people below begged them to beware. “I wonder where Peter and Patty are? ” said Kitty as at last she and Pip reached the top. She dug in her claws and had a look. There was a shriek from Peter and Patty.

Bang! Bang! ! Bang! ! ! Bang went the balloon! Away went everyone in various directions! . • “Wherever are we going?” screamed Patty, waving her arms about like a windmill. “ Don’t ask me,” shrieked Peter as he passed her on his rapid journey through the air. “ I suppose I shall land somewhere,” sighed Mr Pip, floating about above the burst balloon. “ Kit, you’re a very wicked' cat. Your sharp claws did this, and I told you to be careful.” “So I was,” grinned Kitty. “ But I got worried about Peter and Patty, and I suppose I forgot myself. Anyway, eats have nine lives, and I can only lose one this time. Cheerio!” And away she went after the "children. Luckily, daddy and nurse had ■witnessed the glorious flight of the O’er and its unhappy ending. They were readv in the garden with a blanket stretched out for the flyers to fall in. Flop! Flop! Flop! Flop! One after another came down, too shaken and dazed to protest when nurse sent them off to bed -without their tea. “I’ll teach them to go rushing about in the air,” she said crosslv, not a bit thrilled by their performance!