utbreak
on our part. We had no weapons, and if we did try to do any damage, with
a chair, say, why five to one was too many for us, even if they were
women; that we had found out to our sorrow. It was not pleasant, having
them always around, but we soon got used to it.

"It's better than being physically restrained ourselves," Jeff
philosophically suggested when we were alone. "They've given us a
room--with no great possibility of escape--and personal liberty--heavily
chaperoned. It's better than we'd have been likely to get in a
man-country."

"Man-Country! Do you really believe there are no men here, you innocent?
Don't you know there must be?" demanded Terry.

"Ye--es," Jeff agreed. "Of course--and yet--"

"And yet--what! Come, you obdurate sentimentalist--what are you thinking
about?"

"They may have some peculiar division of labor we've never heard of," I
suggested. "The men may live in separate towns, or they may have subdued
them--somehow--and keep them shut up. But there must be some."

"That last suggestion of yours is a nice one, Van," Terry protested.
"Same as they've got us subdued and shut up! you make me shiver."

"Well, figure it out for yourself, anyway you please. We saw plenty of
kids, the first day, and we've seen those girls--"

"Real girls!" Terry agreed, in immense relief. "Glad you mentioned
'em. I declare, if I thought there was nothing in the country but those
grenadiers I'd jump out the window."

"Speaking of windows," I suggested, "let's examine ours."

We looked out of all the windows. The blinds opened easily enough, and
there were no bars, but the prospect was not reassuring.

This was not the pink-walled town we had so rashly entered the day
before. Our chamber was high up, in a projecting wing of a sort of
castle, built out on a steep spur of rock. Immediately below us were
gardens, fruitful and fragrant, but their high walls followed the edge
of the cliff which dropped sheer down, we could not see how far. The
distant sound of water suggested a river at the foot.

We could look out east, west, and south. To the southeastward stretched
the open country, lying bright and fair in the morning light, but on
either side, and evidently behind, rose great mountains.

"This thing is a regular fortress--and no women built it, I can tell
you that," said Terry. We nodded agreeingly. "It's right up among the
hills--they must have brought us a long way."

"We saw some kind of swift-mo