prepared themselves for a trip of as many months.

Nothing has as yet been heard or seen of the balloon. Russian steamers
have been sent along the coast of Siberia in search of it, and it is
hoped that some news may be gleaned through the circulars that the Czar
caused to be sent among all the peoples around the Polar regions, asking
them to watch for the balloon, and report it as soon as seen (see page
860).

[Illustration: A Homing Pigeon]

A good deal of excitement was caused by the capture of a carrier-pigeon
in Norway.

Stamped on the bird's wings was "North Pole, 142 W. 47.62."

It was thought at first that it was one of the birds which had been
taken by Andrée on his expedition, and that the North Pole had been
discovered.

It was found, however, that Andrée's birds were all marked "Andrée,
A.D. 1897," and after a few days of excitement and wonder, it came out
that the bird belonged to a German pigeon-flying society, and that it
had been released in Heligoland.

Carrier-pigeons are a particular breed of pigeon which have the
wonderful quality of flying home no matter how far away they are
carried.

Societies have been formed to fly these wonderful birds, and they have