Middletown transcript., 1868-04-11
popular @ales.
THE ISLAND BEAUTY.
ny IrRT BAILY.

was very proud of my first indcpcn-
dent command, when the government char
tered the yacht Sybil, vessel of about six
ty tons, and fitting her out for service sent
me in her, with only two other officers and
crew of thirty men, to do duty on the
coast of Florida.
The crews of vessels in that locality had
often been murdered by the Seminolcs,
against whom the United States were wa
ging war of eXtermination.
The Florida reefs had been particularly
designated in my orders as a part of my
cruising ground; and in obedience thereto,
rs soon as had reached the head of them
at Cape Florida, ran inside and took the
yacht to an anchorage for the night just
to the southwark of Soldier Key.
The next morning with breeze as light
as the breath ola baby, we made sail down
the reef, all hands gazing with delight on
the fowery and luxuriant tropical verdure
which met the eye upon the clusters of
small islands inside of our course.
With all sail set, the wind was so light
that we did not get more than three or
four knots an hour out of the fairy craft,
so concluded to have my gig, beauti-
full boat of six oars, built like a racing
shell almost, got out for the purpose ofin-
specting some of the islands, to see if
could find game or fruit on them.
Leaving orders with my first officer to
fire gun for my recall if the wind fresh
ened, l pushed off from the vessel, and the
boat sped through the water, almost like
an arrow through the air, impclled by a
crew both young and vigorous. who took
pride in the boat and her speed.
Observing about mile inside verv
pretty little island with half a-dozen tall
palms or cocoanut trees, | could not vet
tell which, on it, | stcered for it.
The nearer | got the more beautiful it
seemed. Flowering plants and vines be-
meath the tall palms, a sand beach az white
as snow for bordcr-that was the pic
ture
Before reached the beach my frequent
exclamations made the men look over their
shoulders to see the beauties which elected
my admiration, and though they said moth
ing, the sparkle in their eyes told that
they appreciated the sccne, 7
Seeinga small lagoon or bay making up
amid the Towering verdure, stecred into
it. and in few moments we were at a
1anding-place.
Here new surprise awaited us.
A small boat, only large enough for
single person, and shaped almost like a
sea shell-a delicate frail thing, made of
Spanish cedar and tastefully ornamentcd
with shells of various colors-laid on the
white sand close by the water.
In it were pair of small oars, also in
laid with pieces of pearl-shell.
This is surely an enchanted island, and
fairies must inhabit it, said as leaped
ashore, and telling the men to stay by the
boat. walked up narrow path through a
small orange and lemon grove, fragrant
beyond description.
had got near the centre Of the island,
which did not contain an area of more
than couple of acres, when l paused sud-
denly, for before me on a grassy mound
beneath palm-tree lay something that
looked too angelic for this earth.
1t was young female asleep SO perfect
ly beautiful in form and feature that I
hardly breathed while my eyes drank in
her charms lest should wakcn her.