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stand over there by the harness. That way I will have enough room to release the birds, and you will be in a good position to help me observe their flight. After they are released, I will write our observations down in the Results book. Ready?”
    He stepped to his assigned position. Two seconds later, he returned to her side and mimicked her every move. “This is so thrilling. We could make a big discovery too, right?”
    â€œYes, any trip may find an important discovery. Our results today may even advance our understanding of many of nature’s secrets.” She elbowed him out of her way. The wind had died a little within the last fifteen minutes, making it imperative that she do her experiments before the day’s fine weather changed. She examined the barometer and calculated they had lost one hundred feet, so she released some ballast to gain altitude. The madman, to his credit, did not speak, but he continued to shadow her every move. All she had to do to complete her tasks was ignore him. Once her pencil and the Results book were at the ready on a small bench, she grabbed the cage with a large, black crow. “This fellow was hard to capture, believe me. I am going to remove him now. Are you in position?”
    â€œRight ho!” He jumped to his place by the harness, and the sway created by his vigorous movement caused them both to clutch the side of the basket.
    She fought to restrain the large wings of the black bird and not fall overboard. “Ow.”
    He rushed to her side. “You need my assistance. Let me help.”
    The bird had pecked—rather hard—on her arm, leaving her all too pleased to hand over the struggling crow into his capable grip. His height also gave him an advantage with the troublesome bird, and she was secretly glad of his assistance. “I think, under the circumstances, it would be best if you release all of the animals, while I record the results.” She sat on the bench, opened the Results book, and clasped her pencil. “Ready?”
    â€œYes, yes.” He tossed the crow up in the air.
    The bird immediately flapped his wings and flew about twenty feet before turning to fly in a large circle. After four leisurely circles, the crow dove and was quickly out of sight.
    She started writing her observations in the Results book.
    â€œShall I tell you what I saw now?”
    Glancing up from her entry, she noticed his knees, clad in butter-colored buckskins, directly in front of her. “Once I finish writing our observations of the crow’s behavior, we need to continue these experiments while our altitude remains steady.” She caught his fallen expression and soft sigh. “Very well, tell me what you saw.”
    â€œBless your bonnet.” He proceeded to eagerly describe the crow’s descent using unscientific, emotional words like “bravery.”
    She duly wrote them down in the book.
    When he finished, he took the next cage, reached in, and carefully grabbed a small sparrow. “Hallo, little brown bird. Come, come. Time to fly away home.”
    â€œDon’t get too close to the edge. A Frenchman once tossed a goat overboard, lost his balance, and fell out of the balloon.”
    â€œThat Frenchman got what he deserved. Goats cannot fly.” He crouched, stiffened his gait, and slowly approached the side. “Are you watching?”
    â€œYes.”
    He tossed the sparrow out in front of him.
    All she saw was a dark-colored streak against white clouds. “What did you see?”
    Turning to face her, his happy countenance had disappeared. “I was too busy worrying about the edge of the basket. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” He dropped his head slightly. “Is there any way I can make amends?”
    She smiled and recalculated her opinion of him. He did have a good heart. From now on, she’d try to think of him not like a fashionable Tulip or a fearless madman, but more like an