From before our equipage fled squirrels, field-mice, parroquets of brilliant colors and deafening loquacity.

Opossums passed in hurried leaps, bearing their young in their pouches.

Myriads of birds were scattered amid the foliage of banyans, palms, and masses of rhododendrons, so luxuriant that their thickets were impenetrable.
We arrived that evening at Pleasant Garden, where we were comfortably located for the night with the mayor of the town, a particular friend of Mr.Smith.Pleasant Garden proved little more than a village; but its mayor gave us a warm and generous reception, and we supped pleasantly in his charming home, which stood beneath the shades of some giant beech-trees.
Naturally the conversation turned upon our attempt to explore the interior of the Great Eyrie.

"You are right," said our host, "until we all know what is hidden within there, our people will remain uneasy." "Has nothing new occurred," I asked, "since the last appearance of flames above the Great Eyrie ?" "Nothing, Mr.Strock.From Pleasant Garden we can see the entire crest of the mountain.

Not a suspicious noise has come down to us.
Not a spark has risen.