As they landed they were greeted by the Sun Princess’s messenger, who would guide them northward to the Valley of Enchantment. This guide belonged to the company of Sun people who had accompanied the Sun Princess to her new home. He proved a charming companion indeed, for he knew everything about the countries through which they passed, and in their travels told them many interesting facts. They learned that they were in a southern land, on the borders of a great Gulf. They could see, beside the live-oaks, some superb trees growing to great heights,—trees with great long green leaves, holding big creamy blossoms that opened like white chalices to catch the sun. One tree especially stood out in magnificent strength. Its rough old trunk was enormous and knotted with age, and its broad branches spread out protectingly covered with big waxen leaves. The great tree had a dignity about it that fascinated the Princess. As the little company walked nearer to examine it, they noticed how the grass—soft as velvet—stretched away like a green carpet toward the yellow marsh beyond. The nearer they came to the tree the bigger the tree looked, and they found a round hollow in one side the trunk, where a squirrel had hidden his nuts. “It is a magnolia-tree,” the guide replied, in answer to their questions, “and there are many thousands like it scattered through this southern country.” At that moment a sound rose upon the air, so soft and exquisite in its melody that they held their breath to listen. It came from the branches of the tree, and was a song of welcome from the mocking-birds. In a moment a thousand of these little feathered songsters had joined the chorus. Their notes rang out joyously, for they warbled and trilled in an ecstasy of delight until the strangers thought they had never heard a more beautiful concert. Then suddenly, while the Moon Princess listened entranced, the music ceased as abruptly as it had begun. They heard a flutter of soft wings, and saw above their heads a flock of tiny birds. The birds were lovely,—a soft gray in color, with a splash of white on the wings and tail, and as they flew away and disappeared in the distance all became silent again. What a silence it was! Not a sound broke the stillness. The brilliant sunshine danced along the ground like little sparks of fire, but not a leaf stirred. It grew warm. The blue gulf lay like a sheet of glass in a sort of golden mist. The heat was intense; it seemed to shimmer in a yellow haze over everything; and then suddenly a little movement broke the profound stillness. It came from the green-eyed, red-throated lizards as they ran through the grass. They stopped to watch the strangers wonderingly, but as the Moon Princess moved slightly, the timid little creatures, affrighted, took the color of the leaf on which they were, and lay as motionless as death! Then the Princess spoke softly: “This world is very wonderful; I have never seen so many bewildering things before.”