“Yes, I hope it, indeed.” “Have you a mother?” “Alas! no,” answered Max. “Then we shall be brothers. I, too, am alone--I have no one but my uncle.” “I have no one at all.” “He shall be your uncle, and I will be your brother. But who is she?” “I told you--she is my guide.” “No, Max. She may be a princess, a queen; she is a beauty, as lovely as she is eloquent, and as poetic as the birds which fly above the gardens of Paradise.” CHAPTER X. THE PETRIFIED FOREST. Max asserted himself so strongly in favor of Girzilla that Ibrahim refrained from approaching her, not because he had conquered the passion he felt for her, but entirely out of respect for the madcap. Sherif el Habib treated Max as a guest, and when he told him that he was on a pilgrimage to find the promised mahdi, Max so thoroughly threw himself into the work that the Persian devotee believed more than ever in fate. Girzilla had never been away so far, and so long as she could see Max she was satisfied. Nothing would make the chiefs of the caravan treat her other than Max’s sister. In this way the journey was continued into the desert of Lybia. All had been tranquil. No hordes of savages had disturbed the religious pilgrims, and Max began to yearn for adventure. Nearly a month had passed, and Max was as strong as a young elephant, and as for Girzilla, nothing seemed to tire her. One day a forest was sighted. For many days not a leaf, not a tree--no, not so much as a blade of grass, had been seen. The unmistakable forest was as acceptable to the travelers as is a rain shower to the parched earth. It was impossible to reach the forest that day, but so impetuous was the spirit of the two youths that they obtained permission to go in advance of the party, and while Sherif el Habib rested--for he was getting to look jaded and tired--they would investigate and return to report. Max and Ibrahim, now the best of friends, went forward, joyously. They were both well armed, and carried enough rations to last them four days. It was noon on the following day before they were near to the forest. Never before had they seen such gigantic trees. But there was something weird and strange about the trees. Not one of them appeared to have any foliage. They stood erect, with their topmost branches piercing the clouds, as it were, but not a sign or movement was visible. A slight breeze whistled through the forest, but not a bough swayed, not a tree bent its head before the wind. “Haughty old fellows,” exclaimed Max, as he looked forward at the unbending trees. “They look more like stone than wood,” commented Ibrahim. “You are right. I wonder what timber they are.” There was another peculiarity noticeable. Not a bit of brush, nor tuft of grass was to be seen. So excited were the explorers that they bid defiance to the blazing rays of the sun, and ran forward. Max was the first to reach a tree.