CHAPTER1
ANotUnnaturalEnterpriseThisiswrittenfrommemory，unfortunately。IfIcouldhavebroughtwithmethematerialIsocarefullyprepared，thiswouldbeaverydifferentstory。Wholebooksfullofnotes，carefullycopiedrecords，firsthanddescriptions，andthepictures——that’stheworstloss。Wehadsomebird’s—eyesofthecitiesandparks;
alotoflovelyviewsofstreets，ofbuildings，outsideandin，andsomeofthosegorgeousgardens，and，mostimportantofall，ofthewomenthemselves。
Nobodywilleverbelievehowtheylooked。Descriptionsaren’tanygoodwhenitcomestowomen，andIneverwasgoodatdescriptionsanyhow。Butit’sgottobedonesomehow;therestoftheworldneedstoknowaboutthatcountry。
Ihaven’tsaidwhereitwasforfearsomeself—appointedmissionaries，ortraders，orland—greedyexpansionists，willtakeituponthemselvestopushin。Theywillnotbewanted，Icantellthemthat，andwillfareworsethanwedidiftheydofindit。
Itbeganthisway。Therewerethreeofus，classmatesandfriends——TerryO。Nicholson（weusedtocallhimtheOldNick，withgoodreason），JeffMargrave，andI，VandyckJennings。
Wehadknowneachotheryearsandyears，andinspiteofourdifferenceswehadagooddealincommon。Allofuswereinterestedinscience。
Terrywasrichenoughtodoashepleased。Hisgreataimwasexploration。Heusedtomakeallkindsofarowbecausetherewasnothinglefttoexplorenow，onlypatchworkandfillingin，hesaid。Hefilledinwellenough——hehadalotoftalents——greatonmechanicsandelectricity。Hadallkindsofboatsandmotorcars，andwasoneofthebestofourairmen。
WenevercouldhavedonethethingatallwithoutTerry。
JeffMargravewasborntobeapoet，abotanist——orboth——buthisfolkspersuadedhimtobeadoctorinstead。Hewasagoodone，forhisage，buthisrealinterestwasinwhathelovedtocall"thewondersofscience。"
Asforme，sociology’smymajor。Youhavetobackthatupwithalotofothersciences，ofcourse。I’minterestedinthemall。
Terrywasstrongonfacts——geographyandmeteorologyandthose;Jeffcouldbeathimanytimeonbiology，andIdidn’tcarewhatitwastheytalkedabout，solongasitconnectedwithhumanlife，somehow。Therearefewthingsthatdon’t。
Wethreehadachancetojoinabigscientificexpedition。Theyneededadoctor，andthatgaveJeffanexcusefordroppinghisjustopeningpractice;theyneededTerry’sexperience，hismachine，andhismoney;andasforme，IgotinthroughTerry’sinfluence。
Theexpeditionwasupamongthethousandtributariesandenormoushinterlandofagreatriver，upwherethemapshadtobemade，savagedialectsstudied，andallmannerofstrangefloraandfaunaexpected。
Butthisstoryisnotaboutthatexpedition。Thatwasonlythemereststarterforours。
Myinterestwasfirstrousedbytalkamongourguides。I’mquickatlanguages，knowagoodmany，andpickthemupreadily。
Whatwiththatandareallygoodinterpreterwetookwithus，Imadeoutquiteafewlegendsandfolkmythsofthesescatteredtribes。
Andaswegotfartherandfartherupstream，inadarktangleofrivers，lakes，morasses，anddenseforests，withhereandthereanunexpectedlongspurrunningoutfromthebigmountainsbeyond，InoticedthatmoreandmoreofthesesavageshadastoryaboutastrangeandterribleWomanLandinthehighdistance。
"Upyonder，""Overthere，""Wayup"——wasallthedirectiontheycouldoffer，buttheirlegendsallagreedonthemainpoint——thattherewasthisstrangecountrywherenomenlived——onlywomenandgirlchildren。
Noneofthemhadeverseenit。Itwasdangerous，deadly，theysaid，foranymantogothere。Butthereweretalesoflongago，whensomebraveinvestigatorhadseenit——aBigCountry，BigHouses，PlentyPeople——AllWomen。
Hadnooneelsegone？Yes——agoodmany——buttheynevercameback。Itwasnoplaceformen——ofthattheyseemedsure。
Itoldtheboysaboutthesestories，andtheylaughedatthem。
NaturallyIdidmyself。Iknewthestuffthatsavagedreamsaremadeof。
Butwhenwehadreachedourfarthestpoint，justthedaybeforeweallhadtoturnaroundandstartforhomeagain，asthebestofexpeditionsmustintime，wethreemadeadiscovery。
Themainencampmentwasonaspitoflandrunningoutintothemainstream，orwhatwethoughtwasthemainstream。Ithadthesamemuddycolorwehadbeenseeingforweekspast，thesametaste。
Ihappenedtospeakofthatrivertoourlastguide，arathersuperiorfellowwithquick，brighteyes。
Hetoldmethattherewasanotherriver——"overthere，shortriver，sweetwater，redandblue。"
IwasinterestedinthisandanxioustoseeifIhadunderstood，soIshowedhimaredandbluepencilIcarried，andaskedagain。
Yes，hepointedtotheriver，andthentothesouthwestward。
"River——goodwater——redandblue。"
Terrywasclosebyandinterestedinthefellow’spointing。
"Whatdoeshesay，Van？"
Itoldhim。
Terryblazedupatonce。
"Askhimhowfaritis。"
Themanindicatedashortjourney;Ijudgedabouttwohours，maybethree。
"Let’sgo，"urgedTerry。"Justusthree。Maybewecanreallyfindsomething。Maybecinnabarinit。"
"Maybeindigo，"Jeffsuggested，withhislazysmile。
Itwasearlyyet;wehadjustbreakfasted;andleavingwordthatwe’dbebackbeforenight，wegotawayquietly，notwishingtobethoughttoogullibleifwefailed，andsecretlyhopingtohavesomenicelittlediscoveryalltoourselves。
Itwasalongtwohours，nearerthree。Ifancythesavagecouldhavedoneitalonemuchquicker。Therewasadesperatetangleofwoodandwaterandaswampypatchwenevershouldhavefoundourwayacrossalone。Buttherewasone，andIcouldseeTerry，withcompassandnotebook，markingdirectionsandtryingtoplacelandmarks。
Wecameafterawhiletoasortofmarshylake，verybig，sothatthecirclingforestlookedquitelowanddimacrossit。Ourguidetoldusthatboatscouldgofromtheretoourcamp——but"longway——allday。"
Thiswaterwassomewhatclearerthanthatwehadleft，butwecouldnotjudgewellfromthemargin。Weskirteditforanotherhalfhourorso，thegroundgrowingfirmerasweadvanced，andpresentlyweturnedthecornerofawoodedpromontoryandsawaquitedifferentcountry——asuddenviewofmountains，steepandbare。
"Oneofthoselongeasterlyspurs，"Terrysaidappraisingly。
"Maybehundredsofmilesfromtherange。Theycropoutlikethat。"
Suddenlyweleftthelakeandstruckdirectlytowardthecliffs。Weheardrunningwaterbeforewereachedit，andtheguidepointedproudlytohisriver。
Itwasshort。Wecouldseewhereitpoureddownanarrowverticalcataractfromanopeninginthefaceofthecliff。Itwassweetwater。Theguidedrankeagerlyandsodidwe。
"That’ssnowwater，"Terryannounced。"Mustcomefromwaybackinthehills。"
Butastobeingredandblue——itwasgreenishintint。Theguideseemednotatallsurprised。Hehuntedaboutalittleandshowedusaquietmarginalpoolwherethereweresmearsofredalongtheborder;yes，andofblue。
Terrygotouthismagnifyingglassandsquatteddowntoinvestigate。
"Chemicalsofsomesort——Ican’ttellonthespot。Looktomelikedyestuffs。Let’sgetnearer，"heurged，"uptherebythefall。"
Wescrambledalongthesteepbanksandgotclosetothepoolthatfoamedandboiledbeneaththefallingwater。Herewesearchedtheborderandfoundtracesofcolorbeyonddispute。
More——Jeffsuddenlyheldupanunlooked—fortrophy。
Itwasonlyarag，along，raveledfragmentofcloth。Butitwasawell—wovenfabric，withapattern，andofaclearscarletthatthewaterhadnotfaded。Nosavagetribethatwehadheardofmadesuchfabrics。
Theguidestoodserenelyonthebank，wellpleasedwithourexcitement。
"Onedayblue——onedayred——onedaygreen，"hetoldus，andpulledfromhispouchanotherstripofbright—huedcloth。
"Comedown，"hesaid，pointingtothecataract。"WomanCountry——upthere。"
Thenwewereinterested。Wehadourrestandlunchrightthereandpumpedthemanforfurtherinformation。Hecouldtellusonlywhattheothershad——alandofwomen——nomen——babies，butallgirls。Noplaceformen——dangerous。Somehadgonetosee——nonehadcomeback。
IcouldseeTerry’sjawsetatthat。Noplaceformen？
Dangerous？Helookedasifhemightshinupthewaterfallonthespot。
Buttheguidewouldnothearofgoingup，eveniftherehadbeenanypossiblemethodofscalingthatsheercliff，andwehadtogetbacktoourpartybeforenight。
"Theymightstayifwetoldthem，"Isuggested。
ButTerrystoppedinhistracks。"Lookhere，fellows，"hesaid。
"Thisisourfind。Let’snottellthosecockyoldprofessors。Let’sgoonhomewith’em，andthencomeback——justus——havealittleexpeditionofourown。"
Welookedathim，muchimpressed。TherewassomethingattractivetoabunchofunattachedyoungmeninfindinganundiscoveredcountryofastrictlyAmazoniannature。
Ofcoursewedidn’tbelievethestory——butyet！
"Thereisnosuchclothmadebyanyoftheselocaltribes，"
Iannounced，examiningthoseragswithgreatcare。"Somewhereupyondertheyspinandweaveanddye——aswellaswedo。"
"Thatwouldmeanaconsiderablecivilization，Van。Therecouldn’tbesuchaplace——andnotknownabout。"
"Oh，well，Idon’tknow。What’sthatoldrepublicupinthePyreneessomewhere——Andorra？Preciousfewpeopleknowanythingaboutthat，andit’sbeenmindingitsownbusinessforathousandyears。Thenthere’sMontenegro——splendidlittlestate——youcouldloseadozenMontenegroesupanddownthesegreatranges。"
Wediscussedithotlyallthewaybacktocamp。Wediscusseditwithcareandprivacyonthevoyagehome。Wediscusseditafterthat，stillonlyamongourselves，whileTerrywasmakinghisarrangements。
Hewashotaboutit。Luckyhehadsomuchmoney——wemighthavehadtobegandadvertiseforyearstostartthething，andthenitwouldhavebeenamatterofpublicamusement——justsportforthepapers。
ButT。O。Nicholsoncouldfixuphisbigsteamyacht，loadhisspecially—madebigmotorboataboard，andtuckina"dissembled"
biplanewithoutanymorenoticethanasnipinthesocietycolumn。
Wehadprovisionsandpreventivesandallmannerofsupplies。
Hispreviousexperiencestoodhimingoodsteadthere。Itwasaverycompletelittleoutfit。
Weweretoleavetheyachtatthenearestsafeportandgoupthatendlessriverinourmotorboat，justthethreeofusandapilot;
thendropthepilotwhenwegottothatlaststoppingplaceofthepreviousparty，andhuntupthatclearwaterstreamourselves。
Themotorboatweweregoingtoleaveatanchorinthatwideshallowlake。Ithadaspecialcoveringoffittedarmor，thinbutstrong，shutuplikeaclamshell。
"Thosenativescan’tgetintoit，orhurtit，ormoveit，"Terryexplainedproudly。"We’llstartourflierfromthelakeandleavetheboatasabasetocomebackto。"
"Ifwecomeback，"Isuggestedcheerfully。
"`Fraidtheladieswilleatyou？"hescoffed。
"We’renotsosureaboutthoseladies，youknow，"drawledJeff。"Theremaybeacontingentofgentlemenwithpoisonedarrowsorsomething。"
"Youdon’tneedtogoifyoudon’twantto，"Terryremarkeddrily。
"Go？You’llhavetogetaninjunctiontostopme！"BothJeffandIweresureaboutthat。
Butwedidhavedifferencesofopinion，allthelongway。
Anoceanvoyageisanexcellenttimefordiscussion。Nowwehadnoeavesdroppers，wecouldlollandloafinourdeckchairsandtalkandtalk——therewasnothingelsetodo。Ourabsolutelackoffactsonlymadethefieldofdiscussionwider。
"We’llleavepaperswithourconsulwheretheyachtstays，"
Terryplanned。"Ifwedon’tcomebackin——sayamonth——theycansendareliefpartyafterus。"
"Apunitiveexpedition，"Iurged。"Iftheladiesdoeatuswemustmakereprisals。"
"Theycanlocatethatlaststoppingplaceeasyenough，andI’vemadeasortofchartofthatlakeandcliffandwaterfall。"
"Yes，buthowwilltheygetup？"askedJeff。
"Samewaywedo，ofcourse。IfthreevaluableAmericancitizensarelostupthere，theywillfollowsomehow——tosaynothingoftheglitteringattractionsofthatfairland——let’scallit`Feminisia，’"hebrokeoff。
"You’reright，Terry。Oncethestorygetsout，theriverwillcrawlwithexpeditionsandtheairshipsriselikeaswarmofmosquitoes。"
IlaughedasIthoughtofit。"We’vemadeagreatmistakenottoletMr。YellowPressinonthis。Saveus！Whatheadlines！"
"Notmuch！"saidTerrygrimly。"Thisisourparty。We’regoingtofindthatplacealone。"
"Whatareyougoingtodowithitwhenyoudofindit——ifyoudo？"Jeffaskedmildly。
Jeffwasatendersoul。Ithinkhethoughtthatcountry——iftherewasone——wasjustblossomingwithrosesandbabiesandcanariesandtidies，andallthatsortofthing。
AndTerry，inhissecretheart，hadvisionsofasortofsublimatedsummerresort——justGirlsandGirlsandGirls——andthathewasgoingtobe——well，Terrywaspopularamongwomenevenwhentherewereothermenaround，andit’snottobewonderedatthathehadpleasantdreamsofwhatmighthappen。Icouldseeitinhiseyesashelaythere，lookingatthelongbluerollersslippingby，andfingeringthatimpressivemustacheofhis。
ButIthought——then——thatIcouldformafarclearerideaofwhatwasbeforeusthaneitherofthem。
"You’realloff，boys，"Iinsisted。"Ifthereissuchaplace——andtheredoesseemsomefoundationforbelievingit——you’llfindit’sbuiltonasortofmatriarchalprinciple，that’sall。Themenhaveaseparatecultoftheirown，lesssociallydevelopedthanthewomen，andmakethemanannualvisit——asortofweddingcall。
Thisisaconditionknowntohaveexisted——here’sjustasurvival。
They’vegotsomepeculiarlyisolatedvalleyortablelandupthere，andtheirprimevalcustomshavesurvived。That’sallthereistoit。"
"Howabouttheboys？"Jeffasked。
"Oh，thementakethemawayassoonastheyarefiveorsix，yousee。"
"Andhowaboutthisdangertheoryallourguidesweresosureof？"
"Dangerenough，Terry，andwe’llhavetobemightycareful。
Womenofthatstageofculturearequiteabletodefendthemselvesandhavenowelcomeforunseasonablevisitors。"
Wetalkedandtalked。
AndwithallmyairsofsociologicalsuperiorityIwasnonearerthananyofthem。
Itwasfunnythough，inthelightofwhatwedidfind，thoseextremelyclearideasofoursastowhatacountryofwomenwouldbelike。Itwasnousetotellourselvesandoneanotherthatallthiswasidlespeculation。Wewereidleandwedidspeculate，ontheoceanvoyageandtherivervoyage，too。
"Admittingtheimprobability，"we’dbeginsolemnly，andthenlaunchoutagain。
"Theywouldfightamongthemselves，"Terryinsisted。
"Womenalwaysdo。Wemustn’tlooktofindanysortoforderandorganization。"
"You’redeadwrong，"Jefftoldhim。"Itwillbelikeanunneryunderanabbess——apeaceful，harmonioussisterhood。"
Isnortedderisionatthisidea。
"Nuns，indeed！Yourpeacefulsisterhoodswereallcelibate，Jeff，andundervowsofobedience。Thesearejustwomen，andmothers，andwherethere’smotherhoodyoudon’tfindsisterhood——notmuch。"
"No，sir——they’llscrap，"agreedTerry。"Alsowemustn’tlookforinventionsandprogress;it’llbeawfullyprimitive。"
"Howaboutthatclothmill？"Jeffsuggested。
"Oh，cloth！Womenhavealwaysbeenspinsters。Buttheretheystop——you’llsee。"
WejokedTerryabouthismodestimpressionthathewouldbewarmlyreceived，butheheldhisground。
"You’llsee，"heinsisted。"I’llgetsolidwiththemall——andplayonebunchagainstanother。I’llgetmyselfelectedkinginnotime——whew！Solomonwillhavetotakeabackseat！"
"Wheredowecomeinonthatdeal？"Idemanded。"Aren’tweViziersoranything？"
"Couldn’triskit，"heassertedsolemnly。"Youmightstartarevolution——probablywould。No，you’llhavetobebeheaded，orbowstrung——orwhateverthepopularmethodofexecutionis。"
"You’dhavetodoityourself，remember，"grinnedJeff。"Nohuskyblackslavesandmamelukes！Andthere’dbetwoofusandonlyoneofyou——eh，Van？"
Jeff’sideasandTerry’sweresofarapartthatsometimesitwasallIcoulddotokeepthepeacebetweenthem。JeffidealizedwomeninthebestSouthernstyle。Hewasfullofchivalryandsentiment，andallthat。Andhewasagoodboy;heliveduptohisideals。
YoumightsayTerrydid，too，ifyoucancallhisviewsaboutwomenanythingsopoliteasideals。IalwayslikedTerry。Hewasaman’sman，verymuchso，generousandbraveandclever;butIdon’tthinkanyofusincollegedayswasquitepleasedtohavehimwithoursisters。Weweren’tverystringent，heavensno！ButTerrywas"thelimit。"Lateron——why，ofcourseaman’slifeishisown，weheld，andaskednoquestions。
Butbarringapossibleexceptioninfavorofanotimpossiblewife，orofhismother，or，ofcourse，thefairrelativesofhisfriends，Terry’sideaseemedtobethatprettywomenwerejustsomuchgameandhomelyonesnotworthconsidering。
Itwasreallyunpleasantsometimestoseethenotionshehad。
ButIgotoutofpatiencewithJeff，too。Hehadsuchrose—
coloredhalosonhiswomenfolks。Iheldamiddleground，highlyscientific，ofcourse，andusedtoarguelearnedlyaboutthephysiologicallimitationsofthesex。
Wewerenotintheleast"advanced"onthewomanquestion，anyofus，then。
Sowejokedanddisputedandspeculated，andafteraninterminablejourney，wegottoouroldcampingplaceatlast。
Itwasnothardtofindtheriver，justpokingalongthatsidetillwecametoit，anditwasnavigableasfarasthelake。
Whenwereachedthatandslidoutonitsbroadglisteningbosom，withthathighgraypromontoryrunningouttowardus，andthestraightwhitefallclearlyvisible，itbegantobereallyexciting。
Therewassometalk，eventhen，ofskirtingtherockwallandseekingapossiblefootwayup，butthemarshyjunglemadethatmethodlooknotonlydifficultbutdangerous。
Terrydismissedtheplansharply。
"Nonsense，fellows！We’vedecidedthat。Itmighttakemonths——wehaven’tgottheprovisions。No，sir——we’vegottotakeourchances。Ifwegetbacksafe——allright。Ifwedon’t，why，we’renotthefirstexplorerstogetlostintheshuffle。Thereareplentytocomeafterus。"
Sowegotthebigbiplanetogetherandloadeditwithourscientificallycompressedbaggage：thecamera，ofcourse;theglasses;asupplyofconcentratedfood。Ourpocketsweremagazinesofsmallnecessities，andwehadourguns，ofcourse——
therewasnoknowingwhatmighthappen。
Upandupandupwesailed，wayupatfirst，toget"thelayoftheland"andmakenoteofit。
Outofthatdarkgreenseaofcrowdingforestthishigh—
standingspurrosesteeply。Itranbackoneitherside，apparently，tothefar—offwhite—crownedpeaksinthedistance，themselvesprobablyinaccessible。
"Let’smakethefirsttripgeographical，"Isuggested。
"Spyouttheland，anddropbackhereformoregasoline。
Withyourtremendousspeedwecanreachthatrangeandbackallright。Thenwecanleaveasortofmaponboard——
forthatreliefexpedition。"
"There’ssenseinthat，"Terryagreed。"I’llputoffbeingkingofLadylandforonemoreday。"
Sowemadealongskirtingvoyage，turnedthepointofthecapewhichwascloseby，ranuponesideofthetriangleatourbestspeed，crossedoverthebasewhereitleftthehighermountains，andsobacktoourlakebymoonlight。
"That’snotabadlittlekingdom，"weagreedwhenitwasroughlydrawnandmeasured。Wecouldtellthesizefairlybyourspeed。Andfromwhatwecouldseeofthesides——andthaticyridgeatthebackend——"It’saprettyenterprisingsavagewhowouldmanagetogetintoit，"Jeffsaid。
Ofcoursewehadlookedatthelanditself——eagerly，butweweretoohighandgoingtoofasttoseemuch。Itappearedtobewellforestedabouttheedges，butintheinteriortherewerewideplains，andeverywhereparklikemeadowsandopenplaces。
Therewerecities，too;thatIinsisted。Itlooked——well，itlookedlikeanyothercountry——acivilizedone，Imean。
Wehadtosleepafterthatlongsweepthroughtheair，butweturnedoutearlyenoughnextday，andagainwerosesoftlyuptheheighttillwecouldtopthecrowningtreesandseethebroadfairlandatourpleasure。
"Semitropical。Lookslikeafirst—rateclimate。It’swonderfulwhatalittleheightwilldofortemperature。"Terrywasstudyingtheforestgrowth。
"Littleheight！Isthatwhatyoucalllittle？"Iasked。Ourinstrumentsmeasureditclearly。Wehadnotrealizedthelonggentlerisefromthecoastperhaps。
"Mightyluckypieceofland，Icallit，"Terrypursued。
"Nowforthefolks——I’vehadenoughscenery。"
Sowesailedlow，crossingbackandforth，quarteringthecountryaswewent，andstudyingit。Wesaw——Ican’tremembernowhowmuchofthiswenotedthenandhowmuchwassupplementedbyourlaterknowledge，butwecouldnothelpseeingthismuch，evenonthatexcitedday——alandinastateofperfectcultivation，whereeventheforestslookedasiftheywerecaredfor;alandthatlookedlikeanenormouspark，onlyitwasevenmoreevidentlyanenormousgarden。
"Idon’tseeanycattle，"Isuggested，butTerrywassilent。Wewereapproachingavillage。
Iconfessthatwepaidsmallattentiontotheclean，well—builtroads，totheattractivearchitecture，totheorderedbeautyofthelittletown。Wehadourglassesout;evenTerry，settinghismachineforaspiralglide，clappedthebinocularstohiseyes。
Theyheardourwhirringscrew。Theyranoutofthehouses——theygatheredinfromthefields，swift—runninglightfigures，crowdsofthem。Westaredandstareduntilitwasalmosttoolatetocatchthelevers，sweepoffandriseagain;andthenweheldourpeaceforalongrunupward"Gosh！"saidTerry，afterawhile。
"Onlywomenthere——andchildren，"Jeffurgedexcitedly。
"Buttheylook——why，thisisaCIVILIZEDcountry！"Iprotested。
"Theremustbemen。"
"Ofcoursetherearemen，"saidTerry。"Comeon，let’sfind’em。"
HerefusedtolistentoJeff’ssuggestionthatweexaminethecountryfurtherbeforeweriskedleavingourmachine。
"There’safinelandingplacerighttherewherewecameover，"heinsisted，anditwasanexcellentone——awide，flattoppedrock，overlookingthelake，andquiteoutofsightfromtheinterior。
"Theywon’tfindthisinahurry，"heasserted，aswescrambledwiththeutmostdifficultydowntosaferfooting。"Comeon，boys——
thereweresomegoodlookersinthatbunch。"
Ofcourseitwasunwiseofus。
Itwasquiteeasytoseeafterwardthatourbestplanwastohavestudiedthecountrymorefullybeforeweleftourswoopingairshipandtrustedourselvestomerefootservice。Butwewerethreeyoungmen。Wehadbeentalkingaboutthiscountryforoverayear，hardlybelievingthattherewassuchaplace，andnow——wewereinit。
Itlookedsafeandcivilizedenough，andamongthoseupturned，crowdingfaces，thoughsomewereterrifiedenough，therewasgreatbeauty——onthatweallagreed。
"Comeon！"criedTerry，pushingforward。"Oh，comeon！
HeregoesforHerland！"
CHAPTER2
RashAdvancesNotmorethantenorfifteenmileswejudgeditfromourlandingrocktothatlastvillage。Foralloureagernesswethoughtitwisetokeeptothewoodsandgocarefully。
EvenTerry’sardorwasheldincheckbyhisfirmconvictionthattherewerementobemet，andwesawtoitthateachofushadagoodstockofcartridges。
"Theymaybescarce，andtheymaybehiddenawaysomewhere——
somekindofamatriarchate，asJefftellsus;forthatmatter，theymayliveupinthemountainsyonderandkeepthewomeninthispartofthecountry——sortofanationalharem！Buttherearemensomewhere——didn’tyouseethebabies？"
Wehadallseenbabies，childrenbigandlittle，everywherethatwehadcomenearenoughtodistinguishthepeople。Andthoughbydresswecouldnotbesureofallthegrownpersons，stilltherehadnotbeenonemanthatwewerecertainof。
"IalwayslikedthatArabsaying，`FirsttieyourcamelandthentrustintheLord，’"Jeffmurmured;soweallhadourweaponsinhand，andstolecautiouslythroughtheforest。Terrystudieditasweprogressed。
"Talkofcivilization，"hecriedsoftlyinrestrainedenthusiasm。"Ineversawaforestsopetted，eveninGermany。
Look，there’snotadeadbough——thevinesaretrained——actually！
Andseehere"——hestoppedandlookedabouthim，callingJeff’sattentiontothekindsoftrees。
Theyleftmeforalandmarkandmadealimitedexcursiononeitherside。
"Food—bearing，practicallyallofthem，"theyannouncedreturning。
"Therest，splendidhardwood。Callthisaforest？It’satruckfarm！"
"Goodthingtohaveabotanistonhand，"Iagreed。
"Suretherearenomedicinalones？Oranyforpureornament？"
Asamatteroffacttheywerequiteright。Thesetoweringtreeswereunderascarefulcultivationassomanycabbages。Inotherconditionsweshouldhavefoundthosewoodsfulloffairforestersandfruitgatherers;butanairshipisaconspicuousobject，andbynomeansquiet——andwomenarecautious。
Allwefoundmovinginthosewoods，aswestartedthroughthem，werebirds，somegorgeous，somemusical，allsotamethatitseemedalmosttocontradictourtheoryofcultivation——atleastuntilwecameuponoccasionallittleglades，wherecarvedstoneseatsandtablesstoodintheshadebesideclearfountains，withshallowbirdbathsalwaysadded。
"Theydon’tkillbirds，andapparentlytheydokillcats，"
Terrydeclared。"MUSTbemenhere。Hark！"
Wehadheardsomething：somethingnotintheleastlikeabirdsong，andverymuchlikeasuppressedwhisperoflaughter——alittlehappysound，instantlysmothered。Westoodlikesomanypointers，andthenusedourglasses，swiftly，carefully。
"Itcouldn’thavebeenfaroff，"saidTerryexcitedly。
"Howaboutthisbigtree？"
Therewasaverylargeandbeautifultreeinthegladewehadjustentered，withthickwide—spreadingbranchesthatslopedoutinlappingfanslikeabeechorpine。Itwastrimmedunderneathsometwentyfeetup，andstoodtherelikeahugeumbrella，withcirclingseatsbeneath。
"Look，"hepursued。"Thereareshortstumpsofbrancheslefttoclimbon。There’ssomeoneupthattree，Ibelieve。"
Westolenear，cautiously。
"Lookoutforapoisonedarrowinyoureye，"Isuggested，butTerrypressedforward，sprangupontheseat—back，andgraspedthetrunk。
"Inmyheart，morelikely，"heanswered。"Gee！Look，boys！"
Werushedcloseinandlookedup。Thereamongtheboughsoverheadwassomething——morethanonesomething——thatclungmotionless，closetothegreattrunkatfirst，andthen，asoneandallwestartedupthetree，separatedintothreeswift—movingfiguresandfledupward。Asweclimbedwecouldcatchglimpsesofthemscatteringaboveus。Bythetimewehadreachedaboutasfarasthreementogetherdaredpush，theyhadleftthemaintrunkandmovedoutward，eachonebalancedonalongbranchthatdippedandswayedbeneaththeweight。
Wepauseduncertain。Ifwepursuedfurther，theboughswouldbreakunderthedoubleburden。Wemightshakethemoff，perhaps，butnoneofuswassoinclined。Inthesoftdappledlightofthesehighregions，breathlesswithourrapidclimb，werestedawhile，eagerlystudyingourobjectsofpursuit;whiletheyinturn，withnomoreterrorthanasetoffrolicsomechildreninagameoftag，sataslightlyassomanybigbrightbirdsontheirprecariousperchesandfrankly，curiously，staredatus。
"Girls！"whisperedJeff，underhisbreath，asiftheymightflyifhespokealoud。
"Peaches！"addedTerry，scarcelylouder。"Peacherinos——
apricot—nectarines！Whew！"
Theyweregirls，ofcourse，noboyscouldeverhaveshownthatsparklingbeauty，andyetnoneofuswascertainatfirst。
Wesawshorthair，hatless，loose，andshining;asuitofsomelightfirmstuff，theclosestoftunicsandkneebreeches，metbytrimgaiters。Asbrightandsmoothasparrotsandasunawareofdanger，theyswungtherebeforeus，whollyatease，staringaswestared，tillfirstone，andthenallofthemburstintopealsofdelightedlaughter。
Thentherewasatorrentofsofttalktossedbackandforth;
nosavagesing—song，butclearmusicalfluentspeech。
Wemettheirlaughtercordially，anddoffedourhatstothem，atwhichtheylaughedagain，delightedly。
ThenTerry，whollyinhiselement，madeapolitespeech，withexplanatorygestures，andproceededtointroduceus，withpointingfinger。"Mr。JeffMargrave，"hesaidclearly;Jeffbowedasgracefullyasamancouldintheforkofagreatlimb。"Mr。
VandyckJennings"——Ialsotriedtomakeaneffectivesaluteandnearlylostmybalance。
ThenTerrylaidhishanduponhischest——afinechesthehad，too，andintroducedhimself;hewasbracedcarefullyfortheoccasionandachievedanexcellentobeisance。
Againtheylaugheddelightedly，andtheonenearestmefollowedhistactics。
"Celis，"shesaiddistinctly，pointingtotheoneinblue;
"Alima"——theoneinrose;then，withavividimitationofTerry’simpressivemanner，shelaidafirmdelicatehandonhergold—
greenjerkin——"Ellador。"Thiswaspleasant，butwegotnonearer。
"Wecan’tsithereandlearnthelanguage，"Terryprotested。
Hebeckonedtothemtocomenearer，mostwinningly——buttheygailyshooktheirheads。Hesuggested，bysigns，thatweallgodowntogether;butagaintheyshooktheirheads，stillmerrily。
ThenElladorclearlyindicatedthatweshouldgodown，pointingtoeachandallofus，withunmistakablefirmness;andfurtherseemingtoimplybythesweepofalithearmthatwenotonlygodownward，butgoawayaltogether——atwhichweshookourheadsinturn。
"Havetousebait，"grinnedTerry。"Idon’tknowaboutyoufellows，butIcameprepared。"Heproducedfromaninnerpocketalittleboxofpurplevelvet，thatopenedwithasnap——andoutofithedrewalongsparklingthing，anecklaceofbigvaricoloredstonesthatwouldhavebeenworthamillionifrealones。Hehelditup，swungit，glitteringinthesun，offereditfirsttoone，thentoanother，holdingitoutasfarashecouldreachtowardthegirlnearesthim。Hestoodbracedinthefork，heldfirmlybyonehand——theother，swinginghisbrighttemptation，reachedfaroutalongthebough，butnotquitetohisfullstretch。
Shewasvisiblymoved，Inoted，hesitated，spoketohercompanions。
Theychatteredsoftlytogether，oneevidentlywarningher，theotherencouraging。Then，softlyandslowly，shedrewnearer。
ThiswasAlima，atalllong—limbedlass，well—knitandevidentlybothstrongandagile。Hereyesweresplendid，wide，fearless，asfreefromsuspicionasachild’swhohasneverbeenrebuked。
Herinterestwasmorethatofanintentboyplayingafascinatinggamethanofagirlluredbyanornament。
Theothersmovedabitfartherout，holdingfirmly，watching。
Terry’ssmilewasirreproachable，butIdidnotlikethelookinhiseyes——itwaslikeacreatureabouttospring。Icouldalreadyseeithappen——thedroppednecklace，thesuddenclutchinghand，thegirl’ssharpcryasheseizedheranddrewherin。Butitdidn’thappen。Shemadeatimidreachwithherrighthandforthegayswingingthing——hehelditalittlenearer——then，swiftaslight，sheseizeditfromhimwithherleft，anddroppedontheinstanttotheboughbelow。
Hemadehissnatch，quitevainly，almostlosinghispositionashishandclutchedonlyair;andthen，withinconceivablerapidity，thethreebrightcreaturesweregone。Theydroppedfromtheendsofthebigboughstothosebelow，fairlypouringthemselvesoffthetree，whileweclimbeddownwardasswiftlyaswecould。
Weheardtheirvanishinggaylaughter，wesawthemfleetingawayinthewideopenreachesoftheforest，andgavechase，butwemightaswellhavechasedwildantelopes;sowestoppedatlengthsomewhatbreathless。
"Nouse，"gaspedTerry。"Theygotawaywithit。Myword！
Themenofthiscountrymustbegoodsprinters！"
"Inhabitantsevidentlyarboreal，"Igrimlysuggested。
"Civilizedandstillarboreal——peculiarpeople。"
"Youshouldn’thavetriedthatway，"Jeffprotested。"Theywereperfectlyfriendly;nowwe’vescaredthem。"
Butitwasnousegrumbling，andTerryrefusedtoadmitanymistake。"Nonsense，"hesaid。"Theyexpectedit。Womenliketoberunafter。Comeon，let’sgettothattown;maybewe’llfindthemthere。Let’ssee，itwasinthisdirectionandnotfarfromthewoods，asIremember。"
Whenwereachedtheedgeoftheopencountrywereconnoiteredwithourfieldglasses。Thereitwas，aboutfourmilesoff，thesametown，weconcluded，unless，asJeffventured，theyallhadpinkhouses。Thebroadgreenfieldsandcloselycultivatedgardensslopedawayatourfeet，alongeasyslant，withgoodroadswindingpleasantlyhereandthere，andnarrowerpathsbesides。
"Lookatthat！"criedJeffsuddenly。"Theretheygo！"
Sureenough，closetothetown，acrossawidemeadow，threebright—huedfigureswererunningswiftly。
"Howcouldtheyhavegotthatfarinthistime？Itcan’tbethesameones，"Iurged。Butthroughtheglasseswecouldidentifyourprettytree—climbersquiteplainly，atleastbycostume。
Terrywatchedthem，wealldidforthatmatter，tilltheydisappearedamongthehouses。Thenheputdownhisglassandturnedtous，drawingalongbreath。"MotherofMike，boys——whatGorgeousGirls！Toclimblikethat！torunlikethat！andafraidofnothing。Thiscountrysuitsmeallright。Let’sgetahead。"
"Nothingventure，nothinghave，"Isuggested，butTerrypreferred"Faintheartne’erwonfairlady。"
Wesetforthintheopen，walkingbriskly。"Ifthereareanymen，we’dbetterkeepaneyeout，"Isuggested，butJeffseemedlostinheavenlydreams，andTerryinhighlypracticalplans。
"Whataperfectroad！Whataheavenlycountry！Seetheflowers，willyou？"
ThiswasJeff，alwaysanenthusiast;butwecouldagreewithhimfully。
Theroadwassomesortofhardmanufacturedstuff，slopedslightlytoshedrain，witheverycurveandgradeandgutterasperfectasifitwereEurope’sbest。"Nomen，eh？"sneeredTerry。
Oneithersideadoublerowoftreesshadedthefootpaths;betweenthetreesbushesorvines，allfruit—bearing，nowandthenseatsandlittlewaysidefountains;everywhereflowers。
"We’dbetterimportsomeoftheseladiesandset’emtoparkingtheUnitedStates，"Isuggested。"Mightyniceplacethey’vegothere。"Werestedafewmomentsbyoneofthefountains，testedthefruitthatlookedripe，andwenton，impressed，forallourgaybravadobythesenseofquietpotencywhichlayaboutus。
Herewasevidentlyapeoplehighlyskilled，efficient，caringfortheircountryasafloristcaresforhiscostliestorchids。Underthesoftbrilliantblueofthatclearsky，inthepleasantshadeofthoseendlessrowsoftrees，wewalkedunharmed，theplacidsilencebrokenonlybythebirds。
Presentlytherelaybeforeusatthefootofalonghillthetownorvillagewewereaimingfor。Westoppedandstudiedit。
Jeffdrewalongbreath。"Iwouldn’thavebelievedacollectionofhousescouldlooksolovely，"hesaid。
"They’vegotarchitectsandlandscapegardenersinplenty，that’ssure，"agreedTerry。
Iwasastonishedmyself。Yousee，IcomefromCalifornia，andthere’snocountrylovelier，butwhenitcomestotowns——！Ihaveoftengroanedathometoseetheoffensivemessmanmadeinthefaceofnature，eventhoughI’mnoartsharp，likeJeff。Butthisplace！Itwasbuiltmostlyofasortofdullrose—coloredstone，withhereandtheresomeclearwhitehouses;anditlayabroadamongthegreengrovesandgardenslikeabrokenrosaryofpinkcoral。
"Thosebigwhiteonesarepublicbuildingsevidently，"Terrydeclared。"Thisisnosavagecountry，myfriend。Butnomen？
Boys，itbehoovesustogoforwardmostpolitely。"
Theplacehadanoddlook，moreimpressiveasweapproached。
"It’slikeanexposition。""It’stooprettytobetrue。"
"Plentyofpalaces，butwherearethehomes？""Ohtherearelittleonesenough——but——。"Itcertainlywasdifferentfromanytownswehadeverseen。
"There’snodirt，"saidJeffsuddenly。"There’snosmoke，"headdedafteralittle。
"There’snonoise，"Ioffered;butTerrysnubbedme——"That’sbecausetheyarelayinglowforus;we’dbetterbecarefulhowwegointhere。"
Nothingcouldinducehimtostayout，however，sowewalkedon。
Everythingwasbeauty，order，perfectcleanness，andthepleasantestsenseofhomeoveritall。Aswenearedthecenterofthetownthehousesstoodthicker，rantogetherasitwere，grewintoramblingpalacesgroupedamongparksandopensquares，somethingascollegebuildingsstandintheirquietgreens。
Andthen，turningacorner，wecameintoabroadpavedspaceandsawbeforeusabandofwomenstandingclosetogetherinevenorder，evidentlywaitingforus。
Westoppedamomentandlookedback。Thestreetbehindwasclosedbyanotherband，marchingsteadily，shouldertoshoulder。Wewenton——thereseemednootherwaytogo——andpresentlyfoundourselvesquitesurroundedbythisclose—massedmultitude，women，allofthem，but——
Theywerenotyoung。Theywerenotold。Theywerenot，inthegirlsense，beautiful。Theywerenotintheleastferocious。
Andyet，asIlookedfromfacetoface，calm，grave，wise，whollyunafraid，evidentlyassuredanddetermined，Ihadthefunniestfeeling——averyearlyfeeling——afeelingthatItracedbackandbackinmemoryuntilIcaughtupwithitatlast。ItwasthatsenseofbeinghopelesslyinthewrongthatIhadsooftenfeltinearlyyouthwhenmyshortlegs’utmosteffortfailedtoovercomethefactthatIwaslatetoschool。
Jefffeltittoo;Icouldseehedid。Wefeltlikesmallboys，verysmallboys，caughtdoingmischiefinsomegraciouslady’shouse。
ButTerryshowednosuchconsciousness。Isawhisquickeyesdartinghereandthere，estimatingnumbers，measuringdistances，judgingchancesofescape。Heexaminedthecloseranksaboutus，reachingbackfaroneveryside，andmurmuredsoftlytome，"Everyoneof’emoverfortyasI’masinner。"
Yettheywerenotoldwomen。Eachwasinthefullbloomofrosyhealth，erect，serene，standingsure—footedandlightasanypugilist。
Theyhadnoweapons，andwehad，butwehadnowishtoshoot。
"I’dassoonshootmyaunts，"mutteredTerryagain。"Whatdotheywantwithusanyhow？Theyseemtomeanbusiness。"
Butinspiteofthatbusinesslikeaspect，hedeterminedtotryhisfavoritetactics。Terryhadcomearmedwithatheory。
Hesteppedforward，withhisbrilliantingratiatingsmile，andmadelowobeisancetothewomenbeforehim。Thenheproducedanothertribute，abroadsoftscarfoffilmytexture，richincolorandpattern，alovelything，eventomyeye，andoffereditwithadeepbowtothetallunsmilingwomanwhoseemedtoheadtheranksbeforehim。Shetookitwithagraciousnodofacknowledgment，andpasseditontothosebehindher。
Hetriedagain，thistimebringingoutacircletofrhinestones，aglitteringcrownthatshouldhavepleasedanywomanonearth。
Hemadeabriefaddress，includingJeffandmeaspartnersinhisenterprise，andwithanotherbowpresentedthis。Againhisgiftwasacceptedand，asbefore，passedoutofsight。
"Iftheywereonlyyounger，"hemutteredbetweenhisteeth。
"WhatonearthisafellowtosaytoaregimentofoldColonelslikethis？"
Inallourdiscussionsandspeculationswehadalwaysunconsciouslyassumedthatthewomen，whateverelsetheymightbe，wouldbeyoung。Mostmendothinkthatway，Ifancy。
"Woman"intheabstractisyoung，and，weassume，charming。
Astheygetoldertheypassoffthestage，somehow，intoprivateownershipmostly，oroutofitaltogether。Butthesegoodladieswereverymuchonthestage，andyetanyoneofthemmighthavebeenagrandmother。
Welookedfornervousness——therewasnone。
Forterror，perhaps——therewasnone。
Foruneasiness，forcuriosity，forexcitement——andallwesawwaswhatmighthavebeenavigilancecommitteeofwomendoctors，ascoolascucumbers，andevidentlymeaningtotakeustotaskforbeingthere。
Sixofthemsteppedforwardnow，oneoneithersideofeachofus，andindicatedthatweweretogowiththem。Wethoughtitbesttoaccede，atfirstanyway，andmarchedalong，oneofthesecloseateachelbow，andtheothersinclosemassesbefore，behind，onbothsides。
Alargebuildingopenedbeforeus，averyheavythick—walledimpressiveplace，big，andold—looking;ofgraystone，notliketherestofthetown。
"Thiswon’tdo！"saidTerrytous，quickly。"Wemustn’tletthemgetusinthis，boys。Alltogether，now——"
Westoppedinourtracks。Webegantoexplain，tomakesignspointingawaytowardthebigforest——indicatingthatwewouldgobacktoit——atonce。
Itmakesmelaugh，knowingallIdonow，tothinkofusthreeboys——nothingelse;threeaudaciousimpertinentboys——buttingintoanunknowncountrywithoutanysortofaguardordefense。
Weseemedtothinkthatifthereweremenwecouldfightthem，andiftherewereonlywomen——why，theywouldbenoobstaclesatall。
Jeff，withhisgentleromanticold—fashionednotionsofwomenasclingingvines。Terry，withhiscleardecidedpracticaltheoriesthatthereweretwokindsofwomen——thosehewantedandthosehedidn’t;DesirableandUndesirablewashisdemarcation。
Thelatterasalargeclass，butnegligible——hehadneverthoughtaboutthematall。
Andnowheretheywere，ingreatnumbers，evidentlyindifferenttowhathemightthink，evidentlydeterminedonsomepurposeoftheirownregardinghim，andapparentlywellabletoenforcetheirpurpose。