“Well, but describe this mirage.”
“I saw trees and water and big houses same as this here, all shimmering in the air.”
“Yes; but they were only in one part of the horizon—to east and west there was nothing but sand.”
“That is so, baas.”
“And what did you see, Clarence?”
“Oh, something the same as Cocoeni. There appeared to be a large lake in one part, with trees and houses on its margin.”
“And you, Fred?”
“Oh, I saw the lake, or sea, with the other deceptions,” replied Fred. “But I have seen the same sort of thing in Australia.”
“I bet you didn’t, Fred, see exactly the same sort of thing out there!” cried Ned, excitedly. “Now, you know, the nature of mirages is that they will show up on all sides when they show at all. Look again, and see if that lake has altered its position, or if it is repeated anywhere else than in the one direction.”
After another careful survey, the boys owned, somewhat regretfully, that their leader was right. The mirage—if it was a mirage—was stationary, and localised to one part only.