Wherever we went the people stared at me, as well they might, as I walked
through them overtopping the tallest by a head or more. The drinking-cups
paused half-way to their mouths; the jests died away upon their lips;
and the blinking eyes of the drinkers shone with a momentary sparkle of
wonder as their minds reeled down those many-tinted floods to the realms
of oblivion they loved.

I heard men whisper one to another, "Who is he?"; "Whence does he come?";
"Is he a tribute-taker?" as I strolled amongst them, my mind still so
thrilled with doubt and wonder that to me they seemed hardly more than
painted puppets, the vistas of their lovely glades and the ivory town
beyond only the fancy of a dream, and their talk as incontinent as the
babble of a stream.

Then happily, as I walked along with bent head brooding over the
incredible thing that had happened, my companion's shapely legs gave out,
and with a sigh of fatigue he suggested we should take a skiff amongst
the many lying about upon the margins and sail towards the town, "For,"
said he, "the breeze blows thitherward, and 'tis a shame to use one's
limbs when Nature will carry us for nothing!"

"But have you a boat of your own hereabouts?" I queried; "for to tell
the truth I came from home myself somewhat poorly provided with means
to buy or barter, and if your purse be not heavier than mine we must
still do as poor men do."

"Oh!" said An, "there is no need to think of that, no one here to hire
or hire of; we will just take the first skiff we see that suits us."

"And what if the owner should come along and find his boat gone?"