carried several pails before it was full, taking care to put the most
luscious ones on top, and after fastening the cover with the clamps I
had put on it, crawled into the bottom compartment, fastened up my side
opening and lay still to await results.

"It must have been two hours, and I was beginning to feel very much
cramped when I heard a whirring of great wings, and then the toucan
alighted on the ground beside me. He had evidently spied the basket
and was curious to know what it was. He came over and then I could
feel him pecking at the peaches through the woven covering.

"It was only a moment before somebody saw him, for every farmer had a
boy watching, and the cry rang out, 'The toucan, the toucan!' I could
see people running hurriedly towards us waving shovels, scythes, hoes,
and various other implements. The toucan did just what I had hoped he
would. He seized the basket by the handle and flew away over the
desert with it, and I lay in the bottom looking down at the desert
sands below, and thinking of what a dreadful death I should have if he
dropped me.

[Illustration: The toucan . . . seized the basket by the handle and
flew away.]

"On we sailed, leaving the village far behind. I turned my head and
looked towards the center of the desert. We were nearing the oasis,
and I could see great trees with something silvery shining between them
which I supposed must be a lake. Nearer and nearer we drew, and now I
could see quite plainly the tree tops waving in the wind, but no water.
The top of the wall appeared under me suddenly. Then we were quite a
distance past the wall and settling down among trees upon a green
space. The toucan alighted on the grass, put the basket down and again
began pecking at the peaches through the cover. I opened my side
fastening, crawled out and jumped to my feet sword in hand, supposing
the toucan would attack me, but I evidently startled him, as he gave a
loud clack, seized the basket again and flew with it over a tall hedge
a short distance away.

"I looked about me then, and found myself on a beautiful lawn under
magnificent trees, with here and there a wide avenue leading among
gardens of gorgeous flowers and fountains of splashing water bordered
by flower beds. There were many comfortable seats under the trees, and
hammocks hung here and there in a most inviting manner. I walked along
the nearest avenue which led under the trees, and came out upon a broad
stre