A slight breeze whistled through the forest, but not a bough swayed, not a tree bent its head before the wind.
“Haughty old fellows,” exclaimed Max, as he looked forward at the unbending trees.
“They look more like stone than wood,” commented Ibrahim.
“You are right. I wonder what timber they are.”
There was another peculiarity noticeable.
Not a bit of brush, nor tuft of grass was to be seen.
So excited were the explorers that they bid defiance to the blazing rays of the sun, and ran forward.
Max was the first to reach a tree.
The monarch who guarded the earth was many feet in diameter, as straight as a flagstaff, and entirely without leaves.
Max touched the bark, and withdrew his hand, suddenly.