Andthenhesawfirstoneandthenasecondgreatwhiteball，agreatshiningwhiteballlikeagiganticheadofthistle-down，thatdrovebeforethewindathwartthepath。Theseballssoaredhighintheair，anddroppedandroseagainandcaughtforamoment，andhurriedonandpassed，butatthesightofthemtherestlessnessofthehorsesincreased。
Thenpresentlyhesawthatmoreofthesedriftingglobes——andthensoonverymanymore——werehurryingtowardshimdownthevalley。
Theybecameawareofasquealing。Athwartthepathahugeboarrushed，turninghisheadbutforoneinstanttoglanceatthem，andthenhurlingondownthevalleyagain。Andatthat，allthreestoppedandsatintheirsaddles，staringintothethickeninghazethatwascominguponthem。
“Ifitwerenotforthisthistle-down——“begantheleader。
Butnowabigglobecamedriftingpastwithinascoreofyardsofthem。Itwasreallynotanevensphereatall，butavast，soft，ragged，filmything，asheetgatheredbythecorners，anaerialjelly-fish，asitwere，butrollingoverandoverasitadvanced，andtrailinglong，cobwebbythreadsandstreamersthatfloatedinitswake。