healed in a few hours. We took care to revenge ourselves on
the savages, and with their own hatchets put every one of them to death.
We then returned to our troop, who had given us up for lost, and they
made great rejoicings on our return. We now proceeded in our journey
through this prodigious wilderness, Gog and Magog acting as pioneers,
hewing down the trees, &c., at a great rate as we advanced. We passed
over numberless swamps and lakes and rivers, until at length we
discovered a habitation at some distance. It appeared a dark and gloomy
castle, surrounded with strong ramparts, and a broad ditch. We called
a council of war, and it was determined to send a deputation with a
trumpet to the walls of the castle, and demand friendship from the
governor, whoever he might be, and an account if aught he knew of
Wauwau. For this purpose our whole caravan halted in the wood, and Gog
and Magog reclined amongst the trees, that their enormous strength
and size should not be discovered, and give umbrage to the lord of
the castle. Our embassy approached the castle, and having demanded
admittance for some time, at length the drawbridge was let down, and
they were suffered to enter. As soon as they had passed the gate it was
immediately closed after them, and on either side they perceived ranks
of halberdiers, who made them tremble with fear. "We come," the
herald proclaimed, "on the part of Hilaro Frosticos, Don Quixote,
Lord Whittington, and the thrice-renowned Baron Munchausen, to claim
friendship from the governor of this puissant castle, and to seek
Wauwau." "The most noble the governor," replied the officer, "is at all
times happy to entertain such travellers as pass through these immense
deserts, and will esteem it an honour that the great Hilaro Frosticos,
Don Quixote, Lord Whittington, and the thrice-renowned Baron Munchausen,
enter his castle walls."

In short, we entered the castle. The governor sat with all our company
to table, surrounded by his friends, of a very fierce and warlike
appearance. They spoke but little, and seemed very austere and reserved,
until the first course was served up. The dishes were brought in by
a number of bears walking on their hind-legs, and on every dish was a
fricassee of pistols, pistol-bullets, sauce of gunpowder, and aqua-vitae.
This entertainment seemed rather indigestible by even an ostrich's
stomach, when the governor addressed us, and informed me that it was
ever his custom to stran