He took hold
of my hand, and leading me slowly forward a few paces, I found there
were three diverging passages. He drew me into the middle one. Then we
resumed our quick gait, and, for some little time, all appeared to be
plain sailing again.

It may be asked, why did I allow myself to be guided by a thoughtless
monkey? But here, in this darkness, was not reason entirely at sea?
Might not instinct be superior to reason and avail something? I
abandoned myself entirely to its mysterious power. I had faith in it.
Grilly proceeded with such confidence that I could not but trust him.

We had been plodding our way through the darkness for about four hours,
I thought, when Grilly gave a loud shriek, and, running back to us, led
us hurriedly forward; light became faintly visible; we ascended a few
steps through a very narrow passage; we came abruptly to a stop; the
monkey grasped something that hung down from above, and sprang upward
with the agility of his nature. We saw him high above our heads
climbing through a square opening of light. Immediately, he was
descending again.

"Why, Pippity," I cried, "we are at the bottom! Up there is our
palace!"

"Of course it is!" shrieked the parrot, in a tone which sounded more
like a shout of joy than the voice of a bird; and, clinging to one of a
number of long grass stems that could now be distinctly seen hanging
from the top, he climbed up with bill and claws as handsomely as any
parrot ever did the like, crying as he went:

"Come along, Frank! We're all right!" Grilly was now down, too; and,
reaching me his hand, he would fain have tried to pull me to the top.
But I gave him to understand that I could very well take care of
myself, and up I went by means of hands and feet--the monkey all
capers, the parrot all talk, the man thankful--and when we stood in our
grand old palace once more, three more thoroughly delighted creatures
never were seen.

"Now, Pippity and Grilly," said I, "bring something to eat. Search our
broad garden for the best. Let us eat and be merry. While the light yet
glows, let us enjoy ourselves."

Away went the faithful animals. When they were gone, I walked forth and
stood under the beautiful trees, surrounded by all the adorning
verdure. How glad was I to be once more on the ground, once more in the
world!

Presently, I saw Pippity and Grilly returning. The latter had an
immense load of luscious fruit strung over his back, besides what he
dragged a