“No,” said the other; “no one living has ever tasted the fruit in its perfection.  When it becomes overripe, it drops to the ground, and, even then, it is considered royal property, and is taken to the palace for the King’s table.  But on fete-days and grand occasions small bits of it are distributed to the populace.”

“Why don’t you pick the fruit,” asked Captain Covajos, “when it is in its best condition to eat?”

“It would be impossible,” said the citizen, “for any one to climb up that tree, the trunk of which is so extremely delicate and fragile that the weight of a man would probably snap it; and, of course, a ladder placed against it would produce the same result.  Many attempts have been made to secure this fruit at the proper season, but all of them have failed.  Another palm-tree of a more robust sort was once planted near this one in the hope that when it grew high enough, men could climb up the stronger tree and get the fruit from the other.  But, although we waited many years the second tree never attained sufficient height, and it was cut down.”

“It is a great pity,” said the Captain; “but I suppose it cannot be helped.”  And then he began to make inquiries about the merchants in the place, and what probability there was of his doing a little trade here.  The Captain soon discovered that the cargo of his ship was made up of goods which were greatly desired by the citizens of this place; and for several days he was very busy in selling the good things to eat, the sweet things to smell, the fine things to wear, and the beautiful things to look at, with which the hold of the “Horn o’ Plenty” was crowded.

During this time the First Class in Long Division roamed, in delight, over the city.  The busy streets, the shops, the handsome buildings, and the queer sights which they occasionally met, interested and amused them greatly.  But still the boys were not satisfied.  They had heard of the Fragile Palm, and they made up their minds to go and have a look at it.  Therefore, taking a guide, they tramped out into the country, and in about an hour they came in sight of the beautiful tree standing in the centre of the plain.  The trunk was, indeed, exceedingly slender, and, as the guide informed them, the wood was of so very brittle a nature that if the tree had not been protected from the winds by the high hills which encircled it, it would have been snapped off ages ago.  Under the broad tuft of leaves that formed its top, the boys saw hanging large clusters of the precious fruit; great nuts as big as their heads.

“At what time of the year,” asked the oldest boy, “is that fruit just ripe enough to eat?”

“Now,” answered the guide.  “This is the season when it is in the most perfect condition.  In about a month it will become entirely too ripe and soft, and will drop.  But, even then, the King and all the rest of us are glad enough to get a taste of it.”

“I should think the King would be exceedingly eager to get some of it, just as it is,” said the boy.