noon
And mountains of ice-cream ! And sandbars of caramels , and chocolate drops , and trilbies , and -- well , now , what 's the matter with you fellows , anyway ? '' He spoke with boyish indignation at that laughing outbreak , but the kindly professor quickly managed to smooth the matter over , although not before Waldo had promised Bruno a sound thumping the first time they set foot upon land . Until past the noon hour that pleasant voyage lasted , without any remarkable discovery being made , the trio munching a cold lunch at their ease , rather than take the trouble to effect a landing . But then , not very long after the sun had begun his downward course , there came a change which caused Featherwit 's blood to leap through his veins far more rapidly than usual , for yonder , still a number of miles away , there was gradually opening to view a hill-surrounded valley of considerable dimension , certain portions of which betrayed signs of cultivation , or at least of vegetation different from aught the explorers had as yet come across since entering that land of wonders . Almost unwittingly Professor Featherwit sent the air-ship higher , even as it sped onward at quickened pace , his face as pale as his eyes were glittering , intense anticipation holding him spellbound for the time being . And then -- the wondrous truth !