"This," announced their guide, "is the Lake of Dry Water."
"It looks wet, all right," said Chubbins, in a tone of doubt.
"But it isn't," declared Ephel. "Watch me, if you please."
He hovered over the lake a moment and then dove downward and disappeared beneath the surface. When he came up again he shook the drops of water from his plumage and then flew back to rejoin his guests.
"Look at me," he said. "My feathers are not even damp." They looked, and saw that he spoke truly. Then Chubbins decided to try a bath in the dry water, and also plunged into the lake. When he came to the surface he floated there for a time, and ducked his head again and again; but when he came back to the others not a hair of his head nor a feather of his little brown body was in the least moist.
"That's fine water," said the boy-lark. "I suppose you Birds of Paradise bathe here all the time."
"No," answered Ephel; "for only wet water is cleansing and refreshing. We always take our daily baths in the Lustrous Lake. But here we usually sail and disport ourselves, for it is a comfort not to get wet when you want to play in the water."
"How do you sail?" asked Twinkle, with interest.
"I will show you," replied their guide.
He flew to a tall tree near, that had broad, curling leaves, and plucked a leaf with his bill. The breeze caught it at once and wafted it to the lake, so that it fell gently upon the water.