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time we had reached about as far as three men together dared push； they
had left the main trunk and moved outward； each one balanced on a long
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branch that dipped and swayed beneath the weight。
We paused uncertain。 If we pursued further； the boughs would
break under the double burden。 We might shake them off； perhaps； but
none of us was so inclined。 In the soft dappled light of these high regions；
breathless with our rapid climb； we rested awhile； eagerly studying our
objects of pursuit； while they in turn； with no more terror than a set of
frolicsome children in a game of tag； sat as lightly as so many big bright
birds on their precarious perches and frankly； curiously； stared at us。
〃Girls！〃 whispered Jeff； under his breath； as if they might fly if
he spoke aloud。
〃Peaches！〃 added Terry； scarcely louder。 〃Peacherinos
apricot…nectarines！ Whew！〃
They were girls； of course； no boys could ever have shown that
sparkling beauty； and yet none of us was certain at first。
We saw short hair； hatless； loose； and shining； a suit of some
light firm stuff； the closest of tunics and kneebreeches； met by trim gaiters。
As bright and smooth as parrots and as unaware of danger； they swung
there before us； wholly at ease； staring as we stared； till first one； and then
all of them burst into peals of delighted laughter。
Then there was a torrent of soft talk tossed back and forth； no
savage sing…song； but clear musical fluent speech。
We met their laughter cordially； and doffed our hats to them； at
which they laughed again； delightedly。
Then Terry； wholly in his element； made a polite speech； with
explanatory gestures； and proceeded to introduce us； with pointing finger。
〃Mr。 Jeff Margrave；〃 he said clearly； Jeff bowed as gracefully as a man
could in the fork of a great limb。 〃Mr。 Vandyck Jennings〃I also tried to
make an effective salute and nearly lost my balance。
Then Terry laid his hand upon his chesta fine chest he had； too；
and introduced himself； he was braced carefully for the occasion and
achieved an excellent obeisance。
Again they laughed delightedly； and the one nearest me followed
his tactics。
〃Celis；〃 she said distinctly； pointing to the one in blue； 〃Alima〃…
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…the one in rose； then； with a vivid imitation of Terry's impressive manner；
she laid a firm delicate hand on her gold… green jerkin〃Ellador。〃 This
was pleasant； but we got no nearer。
〃We can't sit here and learn the language；〃 Terry protested。 He
beckoned to them to come nearer； most winninglybut they gaily shook
their heads。 He suggested； by signs； that we all go down together； but
again they shook their heads； still merrily。 Then Ellador clearly indicated
that we should go down； pointing to each and all of us； with unmistakable
firmness； and further seeming to imply by the sweep of a lithe arm that we
not only go downward； but go away altogetherat which we shook our
heads in turn。
〃Have to use bait；〃 grinned Terry。 〃I don't know about you
fellows； but I came prepared。〃 He produced from an inner pocket a little
box of purple velvet； that opened with a snapand out of it he drew a long
sparkling thing； a necklace of big varicolored stones that would have been
worth a million if real ones。 He held it up； swung it； glittering in the sun；
offered it first to one； then to another； holding it out as far as he could
reach toward the girl nearest him。 He stood braced in the fork； held
firmly by one hand the other； swinging his bright temptation； reached far
out along the bough； but not quite to his full stretch。
She was visibly moved； I noted； hesitated； spoke to her
companions。 They chattered softly together； one evidently warning her； the
other encouraging。 Then； softly and slowly； she drew nearer。 This was
Alima； a tall long…limbed lass； well…knit and evidently both strong and
agile。 Her eyes were splendid； wide； fearless； as free from suspicion as a
child's who has never been rebuked。 Her interest was more that of an
intent boy playing a fascinating game than of a girl lured by an ornament。
The others moved a bit farther out； holding firmly； watching。
Terry's smile was irreproachable； but I did not like the look in his eyesit
was like a creature about to spring。 I could already see it happenthe
dropped necklace； the sudden clutching hand； the girl's sharp cry as he
seized her and drew her in。 But it didn't happen。 She made a timid
reach with her right hand for the gay swinging thinghe held it a little
nearerthen； swift as light； she seized it from him with her left； and
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dropped on the instant to the bough below。
He made his snatch； quite vainly； almost losing his position as
his hand clutched only air； and then； with inconceivable rapidity； the three
bright creatures were gone。 They dropped from the ends of the big
boughs to those below； fairly pouring themselves off the tree； while we
climbed downward as swiftly as we could。 We heard their vanishing gay
laughter； we saw them fleeting away in the wide open reaches of the forest；
and gave chase； but we might as well have chased wild antelopes； so we
stopped at length somewhat breathless。
〃No use；〃 gasped Terry。 〃They got away with it。 My word！
The men of this country must be good sprinters！〃
〃Inhabitants evidently arboreal；〃 I grimly suggested。 〃Civilized
and still arborealpeculiar people。〃
〃You shouldn't have tried that way；〃 Jeff protested。 〃They were
perfectly friendly； now we've scared them。〃
But it was no use grumbling； and Terry refused to admit any
mistake。 〃Nonsense；〃 he said。 〃They expected it。 Women like to be
run after。 Come on； let's get to that town； maybe we'll find them there。
Let's see； it was in this direction and not far from the woods； as I
remember。〃
When we reached the edge of the open country we reconnoitered
with our field glasses。 There it was； about four miles off； the same town；
we concluded； unless； as Jeff ventured； they all had pink houses。 The
broad green fields and closely cultivated gardens sloped away at our feet；
a long easy slant； with good roads winding pleasantly here and there； and
narrower paths besides。
〃Look at that！〃 cried Jeff suddenly。 〃There they go！〃
Sure enough； close to the town； across a wide meadow； three
bright…hued figures were running swiftly。
〃How could they have got that far in this time？ It can't be the
same ones；〃 I urged。 But through the glasses we could identify our pretty
tree…climbers quite plainly； at least by costume。
Terry watched them； we all did for that matter； till they
disappeared among the houses。 Then he put down his glass and turned to
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us； drawing a long breath。 〃Mother of Mike； boyswhat Gorgeous Girls！
To climb like that！ to run like that！ and afraid of nothing。 This country
suits me all right。 Let's get ahead。〃
〃Nothing venture； nothing have；〃 I suggested； but Terry
preferred 〃Faint heart ne'er won fair lady。〃
We set forth in the open； walking briskly。 〃If there are any men；
we'd better keep an eye out；〃 I suggested； but Jeff seemed lost in heavenly
dreams； and Terry in highly practical plans。
〃What a perfect road！