“That’s not a cloud,� he said sharply, “it’s a Zeppelin or something.�
The solid shape grew larger and larger; and as it grew more obvious it grew more incredible.
“Saints and angels!� cried Hood suddenly. “Why, it is a pig!�
“It’s shaped like a pig all right,� said the Colonel curtly; and indeed as the great balloon-like form bulked bigger and bigger above its own reflection in the winding river, they could see that the long sausage-shaped Zeppelin body of it had been fantastically decorated with hanging ears and legs, to complete that pantomimic resemblance.
“I suppose it’s some more of Hilary’s skylarking,� observed Hood; “but what is he up to now?�
As the great aërial monster moved up the valley it paused over the inn of the Blue Boar, and something fell fluttering from it like a brightly coloured feather.
“People are coming down in parachutes,� said the Colonel shortly.
“They’re queer-looking people,� remarked his companion, peering under frowning brows, for the level light was dazzling to the eyes. “By George, they’re not people at all! They’re pigs!�
From that distance, the objects in question had something of the appearance of cherubs in some gaily coloured Gothic picture, with the yellow sky for their gold-leaf background. The parachute apparatus from which they hung and hovered was designed and coloured with the appearance of a great wheel of gorgeously painted plumage, looking more gaudy than ever in the strong evening light that lay over all. The more the two men in the quarry stared at these strange objects, the more certain it seemed that they were indeed pigs; though whether the pigs were dead or alive it was impossible at that distance to say. They looked down into the garden of the inn into which the feathered things were dropping, and they could see the figure of Joan Hardy standing in front of the old pig-sty, with her bird-like head lifted, looking up into the sky.
“Singular present for a young lady,� remarked Crane, “but I suppose when our mad young friend does start love-making, he would be likely to give impossible presents.�