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like any other countrya civilized one； I mean。
We had to sleep after that long sweep through the air； but we
turned out early enough next day； and again we rose softly up the height
till we could top the crowning trees and see the broad fair land at our
pleasure。
〃Semitropical。 Looks like a first…rate climate。 It's wonderful
what a little height will do for temperature。〃 Terry was studying the
forest growth。
〃Little height！ Is that what you call little？〃 I asked。 Our
instruments measured it clearly。 We had not realized the long gentle rise
from the coast perhaps。
〃Mighty lucky piece of land； I call it；〃 Terry pursued。 〃Now for
the folksI've had enough scenery。〃
So we sailed low； crossing back and forth； quartering the
country as we went； and studying it。 We sawI can't remember now how
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much of this we noted then and how much was supplemented by our later
knowledge； but we could not help seeing this much； even on that excited
daya land in a state of perfect cultivation； where even the forests looked
as if they were cared for； a land that looked like an enormous park； only it
was even more evidently an enormous garden。
〃I don't see any cattle；〃 I suggested； but Terry was silent。 We
were approaching a village。
I confess that we paid small attention to the clean； well…built
roads； to the attractive architecture； to the ordered beauty of the little town。
We had our glasses out； even Terry； setting his machine for a spiral glide；
clapped the binoculars to his eyes。
They heard our whirring screw。 They ran out of the houses
they gathered in from the fields； swift…running light figures； crowds of
them。 We stared and stared until it was almost too late to catch the levers；
sweep off and rise again； and then we held our peace for a long run
upward
〃Gosh！〃 said Terry； after a while。
〃Only women thereand children；〃 Jeff urged excitedly。
〃But they lookwhy； this is a CIVILIZED country！〃 I protested。
〃There must be men。〃 〃Of course there are men；〃 said Terry。 〃Come on；
let's find 'em。〃
He refused to listen to Jeff's suggestion that we examine the
country further before we risked leaving our machine。
〃There's a fine landing place right there where we came over；〃
he insisted； and it was an excellent onea wide； flattopped rock；
overlooking the lake； and quite out of sight from the interior。
〃They won't find this in a hurry；〃 he asserted； as we scrambled
with the utmost difficulty down to safer footing。 〃Come on； boys there
were some good lookers in that bunch。〃
Of course it was unwise of us。
It was quite easy to see afterward that our best plan was to have
studied the country more fully before we left our swooping airship and
trusted ourselves to mere foot service。 But we were three young men。
We had been talking about this country for over a year； hardly believing
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that there was such a place； and now we were in it。
It looked safe and civilized enough； and among those upturned；
crowding faces； though some were terrified enough； there was great
beautyon that we all agreed。
〃Come on！〃 cried Terry； pushing forward。 〃Oh； come on！ Here
goes for Herland！〃
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CHAPTER 2
Rash Advances
Not more than ten or fifteen miles we judged it from our landing rock
to that last village。 For all our eagerness we thought it wise to keep to
the woods and go carefully。
Even Terry's ardor was held in check by his firm conviction that
there were men to be met； and we saw to it that each of us had a good
stock of cartridges。
〃They may be scarce； and they may be hidden away somewhere…
… some kind of a matriarchate； as Jeff tells us； for that matter； they may
live up in the mountains yonder and keep the women in this part of the
countrysort of a national harem！ But there are men somewheredidn't
you see the babies？〃
We had all seen babies； children big and little； everywhere that
we had come near enough to distinguish the people。 And though by dress
we could not be sure of all the grown persons； still there had not been one
man that we were certain of。
〃I always liked that Arab saying； ‘First tie your camel and then
trust in the Lord；'〃 Jeff murmured； so we all had our weapons in hand； and
stole cautiously through the forest。 Terry studied it as we progressed。
〃Talk of civilization；〃 he cried softly in restrained enthusiasm。
〃I never saw a forest so petted； even in Germany。 Look； there's not a dead
boughthe vines are trainedactually！ And see here〃he stopped and
looked about him； calling Jeff's attention to the kinds of trees。
They left me for a landmark and made a limited excursion on
either side。
〃Food…bearing； practically all of them；〃 they announced
returning。 〃The rest； splendid hardwood。 Call this a forest？ It's a truck
farm！〃
〃Good thing to have a botanist on hand；〃 I agreed。 〃Sure there
are no medicinal ones？ Or any for pure ornament？〃
As a matter of fact they were quite right。 These towering trees
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were under as careful cultivation as so many cabbages。 In other
conditions we should have found those woods full of fair foresters and
fruit gatherers； but an airship is a conspicuous object； and by no means
quietand women are cautious。
All we found moving in those woods； as we started through
them； were birds； some gorgeous； some musical； all so tame that it seemed
almost to contradict our theory of cultivationat least until we came upon
occasional little glades； where carved stone seats and tables stood in the
shade beside clear fountains； with shallow bird baths always added。
〃They don't kill birds； and apparently they do kill cats；〃 Terry
declared。 〃MUST be men here。 Hark！〃
We had heard something： something not in the least like a
birdsong； and very much like a suppressed whisper of laughter a little
happy sound； instantly smothered。 We stood like so many pointers； and
then used our glasses； swiftly； carefully。
〃It couldn't have been far off；〃 said Terry excitedly。 〃How about
this big tree？〃
There was a very large and beautiful tree in the glade we had
just entered； with thick wide…spreading branches that sloped out in lapping
fans like a beech or pine。 It was trimmed underneath some twenty feet
up； and stood there like a huge umbrella； with circling seats beneath。
〃Look；〃 he pursued。 〃There are short stumps of branches left
to climb on。 There's someone up that tree； I believe。〃
We stole near； cautiously。
〃Look out for a poisoned arrow in your eye；〃 I suggested； but
Terry pressed forward； sprang up on the seat…back； and grasped the trunk。
〃In my heart； more likely；〃 he answered。 〃Gee！ Look； boys！〃
We rushed close in and looked up。 There among the boughs
overhead was somethingmore than one somethingthat clung motionless；
close to the great trunk at first； and then； as one and all we started up the
tree； separated into three swift…moving figures and fled upward。 As we
climbed we could catch glimpses of them scattering above us。 By the
time we had reached about as far as three men together dared push； they
had left the main t