midday
What we had been calling a wood proved to be a group of about a dozen trees only , and , what was strange , the roots sustained the massive trunks exalted in the air , forming strong arches , and props and stays all around each individual stem , which was firmly rooted in the centre . ` I gave Jack some twine , and scrambling up one of the curious open-air roots , he succeeded in measuring round the trunk itself , and made it out to be about eighteen yards . I saw no sort of fruit , but the foliage is thick and abundant , throwing delicious shade on the ground beneath , which is carpeted with soft green herbage , and entirely free from thorns , briars , or bushes of any kind . It is the most charming resting-place that ever was seen , and I and the boys enjoyed our midday meal immensely in this glorious palace of the woods , so grateful to our senses after the glare and heat of our journey thither . ` The dogs joined us after a while . They had lingered behind on the sea-shore , and I was surprised to see them lie down and go comfortably to sleep without begging for food , as they do usually when we eat . ` The longer we remained in this enchanting place , the more did it charm my fancy ; and if we could but manage to live in some sort of dwelling up among the branches of those grand , noble trees , I should feel perfectly safe and happy .