It was growing darker, and the lights of the airship shone brightly against the dimming sky.  The aviator was now circling around the city, dropping lower at times, then skimming in spirals to a higher point.  While Ned stood watching the machine, realizing that the fellow in charge was no novice in aviation, a gentleman whom he had noticed three times before that day observing him closely advanced and stood by his side.  He was a well dressed, clean-shaven man of perhaps thirty, with an intelligent face, a bustling manner, and a suit of clothes which Jimmie would have described as "loud enough to lead a circus parade."