FROM DAN TO BEERSHEBA
Colonel Zegarra was holding a levee of his admirers from the town when Tim returned to camp.
"Well, my young friend, have you made any interesting discoveries?" he asked, from among a group of ladies as Tim passed.
"Several, señor," replied Tim. "Among other things, what it feels like to fly through the air on wheels."
"Very interesting," said the gentleman in amiable ignorance. "I was not aware that your machine could fly. How marvellous is the progress of invention!" he added, turning to the ladies.
"Wonderful!" they cried, clapping their hands.
"Will you show us how you do it, Señor Tim?" said the colonel's daughter.
"I regret, señorita, that it is impossible here," said Tim, laying his hand on his heart in the local way. "It requires a hill a mile long; a number of the Prefect's men pelting down after you, and bellowing like bulls; a ravine thirty feet wide spanned by a bridge; and some good obedient fellows who will blow up the bridge at the critical moment. These conditions do not exist every day, señorita."
The girl looked puzzled. Then a light dawned.
"Is it a joke, Señor Tim?" she asked with a smile. She knew something of Tim's jokes in carnival time.