fter him in a large basket. It may well be imagined that we
had a most delightful meal.

After this, I made frequent visits to the top of the pinnacle, always
taking Grilly with me, Pippity, as a general thing, being content to
take the short cut and meet us at the aperture above.

But before taking these trips, I made Grilly stretch a line of the long
silken cords (which we found in abundance) from one end of the dark
passage to the other, so that I could find my way back, if the monkey
should fail me. I also used strong ropes, made of these strands, to get
over the dangerous slide.

These trips afforded us an agreeable diversion. We had now, it might
be said, entire command of our mountain palace--our magnificent hall
below and our splendid look-out above. Months passed away in this happy
abode. Sometimes we visited the distant mountains, ever exploring, ever
learning, ever rejoicing; but always returning to our happy home with a
renewed relish of its rare comforts and matchless advantages.

During one of the excursions to the neighboring mountains,--Pippity
alone accompanying me, Grilly having gone to assemble his tribe for a
fresh supply of cocoa-nuts,--we were leisurely contemplating the great
expanse of loveliness that lay before us, in the center of which our
noble dwelling loomed up superbly.

"What a splendid domain is ours!" I said to Pippity. "We have
everything that man need wish,--and, for that matter, parrot or monkey
either. How bountiful, here, is nature, and withal so beautiful! And
our palace! Was ever anything in the world like it?"

As the parrot made no answer, I looked toward him, for I was certain
that he would join in praise of all our precious blessings.

There was a troubled look about him. His wings moved convulsively. The
feathers stood ruffling from his body. He was in a state of the
greatest agitation.

I was alarmed. "What's the matter, Pippity?" I cried. But Pippity
replied only with a succession of loud shrieks growing ever louder and
louder.

The air had become as still as death.

My body appeared to move from side to side. No, no! The ground was
rising, falling! It seemed no longer solid. Like a wave it rose and
fell. The foot-hills below us separated, reft into awful chasms. I
looked toward our home. Just then cried Pippity:

"Oh, our palace! Our palace!"

"Ah, ah! It falls! It falls! See, see, how the huge rocks rive and
crumble!"

What a fall was there! A crash that