National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-07-05

The body Of the island indeed resembles that
~ sonc hinge monster of the antediuyian world
wen M its capes and hcNdlands resemble buch
A monsters unsightly limbs and CLANS.
A more terrific solitude than this Isle OF Desc
alton does not exist upon our wrecked planet,
Neither the SHOWS OF liimalaya nor me sahus
Il Sahara can outYie liz trirofs.
No inhaLitant II there, otevon savage, no
house, no tree, lao shrub, no fence nor ROAD, no
icld nor garden, no horse, no dog-hot oven
make or wplf =, A..
Lone blasted anl barren. It looks like tho
hol, lon ofa land that has persisted,
II lnnv indeed be- that DCnlatiuu 10 the relic
tho surviving fragment-of q continent that
went down here ages ago, with hosts OF inhabi'
tants, in some vast CONFUSION OF nature.
II has certainly undergone dreadful vista.
tons been rent by earthquakes, pulyerized by
trosts, dashed ana wasted by fierce tomposts.
Its mountains are only OF moderate height,
but are capped externally with snow.
Its vegetation In limited TO fow dwarsh
plants, including some mosscs species OF
lchen n coarse grass, u plant resembling Il
small cabbage, aud sort OF cress.
It's winds are raw and piercing, II huinmors
cold and frosty, its winters those OF tho Polar
Circles.
The interior Of the Island is occupied by inn
mense DOGGY swamps, whore the ground sinks
ut every step.
The rains in Desolation arc almost incessant,
in their season. and the island il accordingly
veined with numerous torrents OF fresh water,
some of which have worn out OF the solid rock
tremendous cavities and gullies. the only
other season than that OF the rains is one OF
almost constant snow.
The fogs of that ghastly region are well
worthy of, the rains, being OF a cloud-like dem
sity and lowering almost continually over the
whole face OF the island.
The sun of Desolation il usually hidden Nv
q canopy Of load-coored clouds, and appears,
on the rare occasions when il is visible, scarce
~ brighter than the moon in other attitudes.
As to the moon itself, and the stars, the clouds
and fogs rarely permit them to betray their
existence.
No fish worthy of note, not even fishes of
prey, abound in the adjacent waters, by rea-
son, perhaps, Of their containing poisonous
minerals, or deadly exhalatons from the vol
canic fires beneath them.
Yet the dark grim sea inclosng Desolation
has done something to repair the sterility Of
the island.
Peguins, ducks, gulls, cormorants and other
marine birds are plentiful in some of Its har-
bors.
Seals also abound.
Strange and terrible land
Not a single human being, so far as is known,
has ever lived there, save as is now to be re.
corded IN these pages.
Near the middle Of a dull dismal afternoon,
some eleven weeks later than the date Of the
preceding events, the good ship Flying Cla3c'S
drew near TO the island of Desolaton, shaping
her course toward its northernmost bay, called
by Captain Cook, Christmas Harbor
A fair breeze was blowing from the North,
and the ship was carrying every stitch Of her
canvas, including studding-salls.
Her crew-both watches-wore busy about
the deck, and her passengers score in num-
her-had gathered in groups, mostly forward,
and were gazing with great interest upon the
wild, rugged shores before them, so far as the
fog suspended upon those shores permitted
them to become visible.
The ship had come here for water, nearly all
her water casks having been stove or started
during squall ten days previously, and every
soul aboard of her having besn since that date
upor short allowance.
Upon the quarterback stood Capt. Luke
pedder, looking unusually happy, with VIII.
Hawley beside him.
81 mean to get our water aboard before
dark, Captain Pedder, and so avoid losing
night here" said the young executive, totally
unconscious of the plot 10 leave him alone on
the desolate island, and Of the extraordinary
adventures which were before him. The
strange events that happened there, and indeed
the whole of this thrilling story, will be found
only in the New York Ledger, which is now
ready and for sale at all the bookstores aud
news-depots. Ask for the number dated Juy
IS, and in it you will get the continuation of the
story from TIE place where it leaves of here.