But not a sign of anything human could be seen, save, perhaps, a well-beaten path that led from the mouth of the passage into the depths of the forest.
"I told you we would come out into a beautiful valley!" exclaimed the professor. "Now, let us follow this path, and in due time we will come upon the Amazons."
"It seems to me that you are getting remarkably brave all at once, professor," returned Jack Howard.
The professor was about to make some retort when a rather startling occurrence took place.
With shrill, warlike cries, fully half a hundred women burst from the cover of the trees and surrounded the party.
[CHAPTER VIII.]
A WOMAN'S PARADISE.
Had it been a party of men that burst upon them so suddenly our friends would surely have opened fire upon them, but as they were women, they were at a loss what course to pursue.
As soon as the band of Amazons had completely surrounded the little party they came to a halt, and did not offer to lay hands upon them.