To my chagrin, however, the Canitaurs, led by Wagner, were buxom,
seeming to find great humor in what had happened. Turning to them in a
zealous perplexity, I said spiritedly, "How can you laugh? You may have
escaped, but your brethren are doomed, and you yourselves will not last
long around enemies without the protection of the other Canitaurs."

But my rebuke only seemed to make their laughter and mirth more hearty,
and they raged on without ceasing for a time. After a while, when they
were reduced to a smiling remnant of their former pleasure, Wagner
turned gravely towards me and said, "Forgive me, Jehu, for not
explaining it to you. You are right to chastise us, but the situation is
not as you seem to think it, for the map they found was a fake, and will
lead them to nowhere of importance, while we affect our escape. We are
lucky that they left no guard, but come, let us not tempt fate and
remain any longer in this compromised outpost, to the fortress we go!"

He finished and met with the approbations of the others, and
accordingly, we exited the cubby hole and made our way through the
rummaged room, up the stairs, and out of the tree. It was now early
evening, and the temperance of twilight, with its soft and mellow
splendors, only increased the pleasantness of the area. A slight breeze
prevailed and rustled the leaves and boughs of the giant trees just
enough to render it pacifying and comforting. Being quickened by the
breeze, the lake danced on in its earlier smoothness, only in a faster
tempo, improving the ruggedness of the watery wrinkles. The last
visiting rays from the sun were congregated on the eastern shores,
saying their good-byes to the glowing trees, and giving their parting
respects before being whisked away to their native lands of fire, to
come again in great numbers on the morrow.