But there are men on the watch, and as soon as they see that
the eagles have, settled they raise a loud shouting to drive them off.
And when the eagles are thus scared away, the men recover the pieces of
meat, and find them full of rubies, which have stuck to the meat down
in the bottom of the valley. The abundance of rubies in these depths is
astonishing, but none can get down, and if any could they would be
devoured by the serpents which abound there. This country is inhabited
by pygmies and giants. The giants, who are by far the largest men to be
seen in this strait, are ruled by the pygmies."
"And who is the author of this fairy tale?" I asked.
"One to whom I take my hat off," answered Hartog. "Marco Polo, the
first and greatest navigator in the world's history. Where he could go
we can follow."
"And where does he place the Ruby Mountains?" I inquired.
"That is what troubles me," replied Hartog. "Marco Polo knew the Great
South Land, but not so thoroughly as we are beginning to know it now.
From this chart I place the Ruby Mountains on the north-west coast of
the continent of New Holland."
"Whose chart is it?" I inquired.
"Marco Polo's own," said Hartog.
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