Once here, Dick breathed a sigh of relief.
“Now, Mr. Lacy,” said he, “I will tell you how the queen of Hez and myself came to be in the predicament you found us.”
He then related, in as few words as possible, all that had transpired in the past few hours, winding up by asking Lacy how he and the dog escaped death when they went whirling over the falls.
“That is easily explained,” returned Reginald Lacy, with a smile. “There were no rocks at the foot of the falls, and, consequently, the danger of going over them is not great. There is another person who went safely over them since I did.”
“Who was it?” asked Dick. “Surely not Azurma?”
“But it was, just the same. She is now living, and is as hale and hearty as she ever was.”
“Where is she?” asked Queen Olive, in an interested manner.
“In the city of the Naztecs, a few miles from here.”
“What do you mean?” gasped Dick, in astonishment.
“Exactly what I say, my boy. There is a race of people, similar in character to those who live in the Land of Hez, not far from here. Their city is my home for the present, as well as that of Azurma. But come, we had better be moving from here; there is no telling when one of those big turtle spiders might show up. What do you say if you both accompany me to the city of the Naztecs? I’ll guarantee that you will be used well.”