“Look Etta, there are our friends who have waited here for our return.” A large body of young people rushed toward them, singing and shouting. They soon covered the dripping pair with garlands of flowers, and bore them away to the village of Howcu, to the home of Allen and Maula, where a grand feast had been prepared for the returning merry makers. The lives of these two were, from that day forth, a dream of happiness. CHAPTER XXI. The morning was bright and beautiful on which the Eliza Judd, with her returning wanderers, arrived at the dock at San Francisco. As they stepped ashore it seemed strange to once more hear the commotion and bustle of a large city, the cars rumbling, the blowing of the whistles and a thousand and one noises which go to form the city’s din. To Ahleka, it was not only confusing, but also startling. “What is that we hear,” he asked of Mabel, “is there war in your land?” Mabel laughed heartily as she replied, “No, that is the noise made by the march of civilization. It is no army of warriors that you hear, but the vast army of workmen pursuing their daily vocations, but I confess it does have a dreadful sound. But come, let us take a carriage to my father’s home;” at which they stepped into a carriage, and after giving the address of her old home, they were driven rapidly from the wharf. Ahleka was much interested in the horses. As they were driving along he remarked, “Who would have thought how pleasant it is to be carried along in this manner, without the slightest effort on one’s own part? Those immense structures that lift their heads so nearly to the sky, what are they?” “Oh, those? They are simply the buildings that are considered necessary for the business of the city.” “Is that so? I thought, perhaps, they were monuments to the dead, as you have told me that your people erect such magnificent tributes to their heroes.” “They are, indeed, monuments to the dead, but not raised in their honor as you suppose. Thousands of the poor have worked, suffered and died, that a few men might reap rich harvests of gold, and it is that gold which has built these magnificent buildings. For the thousandth part of the money that it takes to build one of these structures, hundreds of men have slaved out horrible existences, and have died without one gleam of gladness ever having come into their lives.” “But why does your ruler permit this? Why are not all alike, happy and equal as in my land?” “Ah, Ahleka, this is civilization. It would never do for every one to be happy in this enlightened country. Equality is only to be found in savage life. Such a thing as universal contentment could not be allowed here. To keep the thousands from making any attempt at equality, it requires the foot of prosperity to be kept firmly and constantly on the neck of adversity.”