When they reached the highest point available within the dome, Rob made a discovery.
"Boys, will you look at that mess of color over your heads? From 'way down below I thought that was a very beautiful painting!"
"And so it is," put in the guide.
"One of the kind where 'distance lends enchantment,'" commented Merritt, gazing at the thick patches of paint on the ceiling above them.
"That is quite right," said the guide. "This painting was put here to be seen from the floor of the Rotunda, and that is one hundred and eighty feet below."
"Jiminy," ejaculated Tubby, "our heads must look like mere specks to the people who are looking up here now!"
"And the people down there look like flies and ants scuttering around," added Andy with his usual chuckle, as he peered over the lofty railing.
On the way down, the attendant showed the boys a fine view from the dome, and pointed out many of the prominent buildings and towers that they had already passed in their morning's ride.
As they paid the excellent guide in thanks as well as coin and went out of the great eastern portico, Tubby patted the front of his coat suggestively.
"Fellers, my feelings tell me that it is long past noon," he said.