The most Wonderful Things have Happened

           Themostwonderfulthingshavehappenedandarecontinuallyhappeningtous.AllthepaperthatIpossessconsistsoffiveoldnote-booksandalotofscraps,andIhaveonlytheonestylographicpencil;butsolongasIcanmovemyhandIwillcontinuetosetdownourexperiencesandimpressions,for,sincewearetheonlymenofthewholehumanracetoseesuchthings,itisofenormousimportancethatIshouldrecordthemwhilsttheyarefreshinmymemoryandbeforethatfatewhichseemstobeconstantlyimpendingdoesactuallyovertakeus.WhetherZambocanatlasttaketheseletterstotheriver,orwhetherIshallmyselfinsomemiraculouswaycarrythembackwithme,or,finally,whethersomedaringexplorer,cominguponourtrackswiththeadvantage,perhaps,ofaperfectedmonoplane,shouldfindthisbundleofmanuscript,inanycaseIcanseethatwhatIamwritingisdestinedtoimmortalityasaclassicoftrueadventure.

           OnthemorningafterourbeingtrappedupontheplateaubythevillainousGomezwebegananewstageinourexperiences.Thefirstincidentinitwasnotsuchastogivemeaveryfavorableopinionoftheplacetowhichwehadwandered.AsIrousedmyselffromashortnapafterdayhaddawned,myeyesfelluponamostsingularappearanceuponmyownleg.Mytrouserhadslippedup,exposingafewinchesofmyskinabovemysock.Onthisthererestedalarge,purplishgrape.