"The news, Chief, is good," answered Mafuta, saluting. "We have arrived within the borders of the Makolo country; and the word of the _'mfana_ who spoke with me is that it will be wise of my fathers to outspan at the first suitable halting place until the will of the king regarding them be made known. The Makolo do not approve of strangers entering their country, it would appear; but their objection no longer applies to white men, to whom the Spirits of the Winds have commanded that all kindness be shown, should such ever visit the Makolo country. News of our arrival has already been sent forward to Lobelalatutu, the king; and his will concerning us will be made known as soon as it comes; but, meanwhile, Matemba, the _'mfana_ who spoke with me, advises that we outspan until that will be made known." "Um!" remarked Dick; "that does not sound altogether promising, eh, Phil? Seems to indicate that there may possibly be difficulties put in the way of our penetrating the country, doesn't it? What did you say to the _'mfana_ Mafuta?" "I said," answered Mafuta, "that the two white men, my chiefs, had come from afar across the Great Water to visit Lobelalatutu, the King of the great Makolo nation, to offer presents, and to request his permission to examine the ruins of the great city of which they had heard." "Yes, of course; I suppose that was the correct diplomatic way in which to put the matter," remarked Dick. "And what said Matemba in reply?" "He said," answered Mafuta, "that doubtless the king, remembering the commands laid upon him by the Spirits of the Winds, upon the occasion of their last visit to the country in their great glittering ship which flies through the air, would gladly permit my chiefs to visit the ruins, even as the Spirits themselves had done." "Ah!" exclaimed Dick; "that sounds better. But,"--turning to Grosvenor--"I wonder what the fellow means by the `glittering ship which flies through the air'--and the `Spirits of the Winds'? Can it be possible that an airship has ever penetrated so far as this? Stop a minute--let me think. `Spirits of the Winds--glittering ship which flies'--by Jove! can it be possible? I thought, when I heard the expression `Spirits of the Winds' that it sounded not altogether unfamiliar, that I had met with it before, in fact; and now that I come to overhaul my memory I very distinctly remember reading a yarn describing the adventures of some people who possessed a wonderful airship in which they made the most extraordinary voyages and met with some astounding experiences--" "Yes," interrupted Grosvenor; "I know the book you mean. I, too, read it. But I took it to be fiction, pure and simple; a somewhat daring flight of a novelist's imagination. And now that you have reminded me of the yarn I distinctly remember that the four fellows in the story were described as having visited these same ruins of Ophir that we are hunting for--"