[CHAPTER XV] _The Lake of Dry Water_
They flew through the jewelled gardens for quite a way, emerging atlast from among the trees to find before them a pretty sheet of waterof a greenish hue. Upon the shore were rushes that when swayed by thebreeze sang soft strains of music.
"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 anddisappeared beneath the surface. When he came up again he shook thedrops of water from his plumage and then flew back to rejoin hisguests.
"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 thedry water, and also plunged into the lake. When he came to the surfacehe floated there for a time, and ducked his head again and again; butwhen he came back to the others not a hair of his head nor a feather ofhis little brown body was in the least moist.
"That's fine water," said the boy-lark. "I suppose you Birds ofParadise 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 weusually sail and disport ourselves, for it is a comfort not to get wetwhen 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, andplucked a leaf with his bill. The breeze caught it at once and waftedit to the lake, so that it fell gently upon the water.
"Get aboard, please," called Ephel, and alighted upon the broad surfaceof the floating leaf. Twinkle and Chubbins followed, one sitting infront of their guide and one behind him. Then Ephel spread out hiswings of white and orange, and the breeze pushed gently against themand sent the queer boat gliding over the surface of the dry water.
"Sometimes, when the wind is strong," said the Royal Messenger, "thesefrail craft upset, and then we are dumped into the water. But we nevermind that, because the water is dry and we are not obliged to dress ourfeathers again."
"It is very convenient," observed Twinkle, who was enjoying the sail."Could one be drowned in this lake?"
"I suppose an animal, like man, could, for it is as impossible tobreathe beneath dry water as it is beneath wet. But only birds livehere, and they cannot drown, because as soon as they come to thesurface they fly into the air."
"I see," said Twinkle, musingly.
They sailed way across the lake, and because the wind was gentle theydid not upset once. On reaching the farther shore they abandoned theleaf-boat and again took wing and resumed their flight through theavenues.
There was a great variety of scenery in the Paradise, and wherever theywent something new and different was sure to meet their view.
At one place the avenue was carpeted with big pansies of every colorone could imagine, some of them, indeed, having several colors blendedtogether upon their petals. As they passed over the pansies Twinkleheard a chorus of joyous laughter, and looking downward, she perceivedthat the pansies all had faces, and the faces resembled those of happychildren.
"Wait a minute," she cried to Chubbins and the guide, and then she flewdownward until she could see the faces more plainly. They smiled andnodded to the girl-lark, and laughed their merry laughter; but when shespoke to them Twinkle found they were unable to answer a single word.
Many of the faces were exceedingly beautiful; but others were bold andsaucy, and a few looked at her with eyes twinkling with mischief. Theyseemed very gay and contented in their paradise, so Twinkle merelykissed one lovely face that smiled upon her and then flew away to rejoinher companions.