iolently shaking his claws now and then in a vain endeavour to get
rid of the unusual weight. Fortunately, however, the straps and ropes,
which had been fastened over the bird's back as well, were very strong,
and so the worst thing that happened to us was a thorough shaking.

This was of no consequence, and when I realised that I was quite safe, I
began actually to enjoy the strange experience of being carried through
the air, I knew not whither. In this case, however, the distance was not
nearly so great as one might have expected, for leaving the city, the
great bird soared over a tract of forest land, above one or two more
towns, and so out into the open desert, in the midst of which was a
range of rocky mountains. His pinions were strong and mighty, so that he
flew very rapidly, and in a little less than two hours he had alighted
on a kind of tableland, at the top of one of the mountain peaks, and we
were at our journey's end.

There was no doubt but that we were at the right place, for the ground
was strewn with stones which, though uncut, sparkled, in the places
where they had been chipped or broken, with a hundred different
brilliant colours and shades.

Shin Shira drew his knife and quickly cut the ropes and straps which
bound us to the now struggling bird, and he was soon released from his
uncomfortable burden.

He shook himself once or twice and preened his great feathers, and then
stalked off to where an enormous nest could be seen in a cleft in the
rocks.

I have no doubt the patient and stupid bird told his mate in bird
language what a very strange and uncomfortable experience he had had,
and at all events he kept out of our sight from that moment.

Shin Shira at once busied himself by gathering some of the largest gems
as quickly as possible; and taking from his pockets some strong linen
bags which he had thoughtfully provided, he handed two to me and told me
to fill them for myself.

This I did, and also put several into my various pockets. I was just
about to say that I thought we had sufficient, when Shin Shira called my
attention to a balloon hovering just above our heads.

There were two people in the basket, and they were peering at us over
the edge through glasses.

Presently one of them shouted an order, and the balloon quickly
descended, so that we could hear the rush of escaping gas as it was
being released.

"Hullo there!" shouted a voice over our heads, "who are you? We've never
b