strange and terrible Woman Land in the high distance.

"Up yonder," "Over there," "Way up"--was all the direction
they could offer, but their legends all agreed on the main point
--that there was this strange country where no men lived--only
women and girl children.

None of them had ever seen it. It was dangerous, deadly, they
said, for any man to go there. But there were tales of long ago,
when some brave investigator had seen it--a Big Country, Big
Houses, Plenty People--All Women.

Had no one else gone? Yes--a good many--but they never
came back. It was no place for men--of that they seemed sure.

I told the boys about these stories, and they laughed at them.
Naturally I did myself. I knew the stuff that savage dreams are
made of.

But when we had reached our farthest point, just the day
before we all had to turn around and start for home again, as the
best of expeditions must in time, we three made a discovery.

The main encampment was on a spit of land running out into
the main stream, or what we thought was the main stream. It had
the same muddy color we had been seeing for weeks past, the
same taste.

I happened to speak of that river to our last guide, a rather
superior fellow with quick, bright eyes.