meval forest that doubtless stretched far inland.

The immense craft paused, and almost immediately a boat was lowered
and six men of gigantic stature rowed to our little fishing-sloop. They
spoke to us in a strange language. We knew from their manner,
however, that they were not unfriendly. They talked a great deal among
themselves, and one of them laughed immoderately, as though in finding
us a queer discovery had been made. One of them spied our compass, and
it seemed to interest them more than any other part of our sloop.

Finally, the leader motioned as if to ask whether we were willing to
leave our craft to go on board their ship. "What say you, my son?" asked
my father. "They cannot do any more than kill us."

"They seem to be kindly disposed," I replied, "although what terrible
giants! They must be the select six of the kingdom's crack regiment.
Just look at their great size."

"We may as well go willingly as be taken by force," said my father,
smiling, "for they are certainly able to capture us." Thereupon he made
known, by signs, that we were ready to accompany them.

Within a few minutes we were on board the ship, and half an hour later
our little fishing-craft had been lifted bodily out of the water by a
strange sort of hook and tackle, and set on board as a curiosity.

There were several hundred people on board this, to us, mammoth ship,
which we discovered was called "The Naz," meaning, as we afterward
learned, "Pleasure," or to give a more proper interpretation, "Pleasure
Excursion" ship.

If my father and I were curiously observed by the ship's occupants, this
strange race of giants offered us an equal amount of wonderment.

There was not a single man aboard who would not have measured fully
twelve feet in height. They all wore full beards, not particularly
long, but seemingly short-cropped. They had mild and beautiful faces,
exceedingly fair, with ruddy complexions. The hair and beard of some
were black, others sandy, and still others yellow. The captain, as we
designated the dignitary in command of the great vessel, was fully a
head taller than any of his companions. The women averaged from ten
to eleven feet in height. Their features were especially regular and
refined, while their complexion was of a most delicate tint heightened
by a healthful glow.(16)

(16 "According to all procurable data, that spot at the era of man's
appearance upon the stage was in the now lost 'Miocene continent,' wh