The scene was ineffably grand, and our friends looked on it in wonder.
“Are you now convinced, Harry, that there are a few real things in Africa?” asked Enola.
“The scene before me would hardly convince me of this,” said Harry, “for everything seems too beautiful to be real.”
“Disabuse your mind of its being a dream?” said Enola. “It is a most sublime reality, and a happy ending to the horrors and sufferings of the cavern. But look, do you not see a body of horsemen yonder? Probably they saw our fire last night and are coming to investigate.”
The horsemen were lost to view for a moment but again appeared to the party as they came out on a clear stretch of road. In a short while the men had arrived at the wall, and opening a gate in this which was at the end of the bridge, they waited for our friends to approach. The travelers moved slowly toward them, and as they came nearer the men dismounted and made a respectful obeisance. These men were the handsomest and most beautifully formed ever looked upon. They were fully seven feet high, and their figures showed great strength and suppleness; their heads were rather small but beautifully shaped; the skin was a light bronze color, soft and healthful-looking; the face was covered with a short beard of dark brown color; the eyes were large, dark, and full of expression; the nose straight and well-proportioned.
Each wore a loose garment with large flowing sleeves; this tunic was belted in at the waist by a girdle of gold; sandals were fastened to the feet by golden lacings extending to the knee; a round helmet was worn on the head, but as our party approached these helmets were removed disclosing short curly heads of hair.
Their steeds were of the same species but much larger than the ordinary zebra, standing at least eighteen hands high; they were beautiful creatures, with small heads, arched necks and finely shaped bodies and limbs; stripes encircled them from the tip of the nose to the tail; the manes and tails nearly touched the ground.
The trappings of the animals were gorgeous; the bridle was of polished gold wire with large ostrich plumes reaching up from the head-piece; the reins and martingales were made of white leather heavily studded with precious stones which glistened in the sunlight; the saddle was flat, being nothing more than a pad made of cloth-of-gold and without stirrups.
As our friends approached them, the men stood leaning against their steeds, holding their helmets in their hands. The rest of the party having halted, Mr. Graham went up quite close to the natives and by signs made them understand that they were tired, and hungry, and wanted food and shelter. One of the men showed by signs that he knew that which Mr. Graham wished to convey, and that they would send to the city and get other beasts to carry them there. Four men now left the band and rode off toward the city, and about two hours later the adventurers were surprised to see approaching them a body of at least one thousand zebramen and in front six monstrous white elephants.
With the greatest care all were helped upon the backs of the royal beasts, but Enola was given the largest, whitest and most richly caparisoned. These elephants were partially covered with cloth-of-gold, and on each of their backs was a comfortable howdah shaded by a canopy of palm branches.