the fact that such an immense scope of country should for
so long be left in its native virginity, especially where all are so
land-hungry.

Then, as nothing of especial interest was brought to their notice, uncle
Phaeton quite naturally reverted to that suit of Aztecan armour, and
the glorious possibilities which the words of the exile had opened up to
them as explorers.

Bruno listened with unfeigned interest, but not so his more mercurial
brother, who took advantage of an opening left by the professor, to
bluntly interject:

"What mighty good, even if you should find it all, uncle Phaeton? You
couldn't pick it up and tote it away, to start a dime museum with. And,
as for my part,--I'll tell you what! If we could only find something
like Aladdin's cave, now!"

"Growing miserly in your old age, are you, lad?" mocked his uncle.

"No; I don't mean just that. His trees were hung with riches, but mine
should be--crammed and crowded full of plum pudding, fruit cake, angel
food, mince pies, and the like! Yes, and there should be fountains of
lemonade! And mountains of ice-cream! And sandbars of caramels, and
chocolate drops, and trilbies, and--well, now, what's the matter with
you fellows, anyway?"

He spoke with boyish indignation at that laughing outbreak, but the
kindly professor quickly managed to smooth the matter over, although not
before Waldo had promised Bruno a sound thumping the first time they set
foot upon land.

Until past the noon hour that pleasant voyage lasted, without any
remarkable discovery being made, the trio munching a cold lunch at their
ease, rather than take the trouble to effect a landing.

But then, not very long after the sun had begun his downward course,
there came a change which caused Featherwit's blood to leap through his
veins far more rapidly than usual, for yonder, still a number of miles
away, there was gradually opening to view a hill-surrounded valley of
considerable dimension, certain portions of which betrayed signs
of cultivation, or at least of vegetation different from aught the
explorers had as yet come across since entering that land of wonders.

Almost unwittingly Professor Featherwit sent the air-ship higher, even
as it sped onward at quickened pace, his face as pale as his eyes were
glittering, intense anticipation holding him spellbound for the time
being. And then--the wondrous truth!

"Behold!" he cried, shrilly, pointing as he spoke.

"Houses yonder! Cultiv