Who is there? What is there? There was no answer. We could think of no way of accounting for this; we determined to visit the place at once, but other cares prevented us. Another strange thing occurred. CHAPTER V. BLOSSOMS. When daylight came our friends were still in existence and gathered about our houses. I had feared that they would vanish as a dream of night. They led us to a vale, hidden between perpendicular walls of rock. Miles and miles the cleft extended, and the surface of the lowland was filled with a strange-looking growth. Tall pods, smooth and satiny, in color pale green, stood like soldiers in an army. The pods were as much as ten feet in height and shaped like the husks of an ear of corn. Walking among these pods we heard confused murmurs and calls, as if the green things themselves had voices. Then we came upon one of the pods burst open; from the husk crawled forth a winged man, blind and helpless, his huge wings useless and cumbersome. I saw the truth. These people were a living vegetable—a product of the soil. After we had somewhat recovered from our consternation, we began to consult. It was blossoming time; we must harvest our people. Thousands of subjects for Regan; thousands of artisans for me! Sailors for air-ships, toilers at looms! A host of people for Father Renaudin to preach to and to teach. A crowd to fill a vast cathedral. A populace! We remained among them for some weeks, until they were strong enough to fly away over wood and mountain isle. We taught them our language, engrafted our ideas upon them and instilled our desires into the minds and hearts of this new multitude. We were earnest, politic workers; for once every one of us joined in the one great purpose—to civilize the people that we need not live in a world alone! Our success was unlimited. There seemed to be no barriers to their understanding; they comprehended, became interested; in a few weeks they helped us plan. We had a great army of docile, winged servants. There appeared to exist no envy, hate or anger among them. They were ambitious, but they were not treacherous. Their faith in us, in all we hoped and in all we did, was perfect. Regan was delighted. He planned the most stupendous works. We took possession of four great plains bordering on the sea, and each, with those who chose to assist, began improvements. “I will build a cathedral which shall surpass St. Peter’s!” said Father Renaudin. “I shall have a praise-offering congregation, for I can see no sin among these bird men! They are not a fallen race; their brain is not clogged by wickedness! That is why they learn so fast!”