led through a high paling of rushes into an
inclosure some fifty feet square. It was surrounded by trees and
shrubs, and in their shade stood a number of wooden structures.

In the center was a pool occupying the third of the area, and like the
large pond before the house bordered with aquatic plants. At the edge
stood two ibises, while many brilliantly plumaged waterfowl were
swimming on its surface or cleaning their feathers on the bank.

As soon as the gate closed there was a great commotion among the
waterfowl; the ibises advanced gravely to meet their young mistress,
the ducks set up a chorus of welcome, those on the water made for the
shore, while those on land followed the ibises with loud quackings.
But the first to reach them were two gazelles, which bounded from one
of the wooden huts and were in an instant beside them, thrusting their
soft muzzles into the hands of Chebron and Mysa, while from the other
structures arose a medley of sounds--the barking of dogs and the
sounds of welcome from a variety of creatures.

"This is not your feeding-time, you know," Chebron said, looking at
the gazelles, "and for once we have come empty-handed; but we will
give you something from your stores. See, Jethro, this is their
larder," and he led the way into a structure somewhat larger than the
rest; along the walls were a number of boxes of various sizes, while
some large bins stood below them. "Here, you see," he went on, opening
one of the bins and taking from it a handful of freshly cut vetches,
and going to the door and throwing it down before the gazelles, "this
is their special food; it is brought in fresh every morning from our
farm, which lies six miles away. The next bin contains the seed for
the waterfowl. It is all mixed here, you see. Wheat and peas and
pulse and other seeds. Mysa, do give them a few handfuls, for I can
hardly hear myself speak from their clamor.

"In this box above you see there is a pan of sopped bread for the
cats. There is a little mixed with the water; but only a little, for
it will not keep good. Those cakes are for them, too. Those large,
plain, hard-baked cakes in the next box are for the dogs; they have
some meat and bones given them two or three times a week. These frogs
and toads in this cage are for the little crocodile; he has a tank all
to himself. All these other boxes are full of different food for the
other animals you see. There's a picture of the right animal upon
each, so