Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-03-22

was however more communicative. 1t
contained some four hundred thousand
acres-that is to say, it was about four
times the size of the Isle of Wight. The
population might be twenty or thirty
thousand, though, as it was a long time
since there had been count, he could not
be quite sure. The soil was very fertile,
as / could see; and thanks 10 the mountain
(mountain pdr-eIcellerlce, there being no
other) which enabled the inhabitants to
vary their climate at pleasure, they had
great variety both of cereals and of fruit.
The valleys and plains near the sea pro-
duced maize. yams, cotton, sugar canes,
oranges, grape-vines, peaches, and pome-
granates; higher up grew wheat, potatoes,
apples, and cherries.
Mr. Field further informed me that, with
the exception Of narrow gap on the west
ern side, the Painted Rocks extended all
round the island, aud that the mist through
which we had sailed was permanent in
stitution-
eve think it is caused by a meeting Of
currents-One hot and the other cold" he
said. anyhow, it is always there, and
the mist and the rocks safeguard our is
land home far more effectually than line
of forts"
Yes" l said; you may lombard fort,
but you would have to shoot long time
at that fog before you made any impress
sion on it; and those rocks would defy all
the ironclads in Europe. BY the by, what
does that inscription, something about the
Santa Anna and 1744, mean7"
"Ahl you saw that, did you? 1t is mere
" the name of a vessel that was wrecked
there. Some day we will have cruise
among the Painted Rocks, and you will
find other records of the same sort. Sew
eral vessels have left their bones there
abOuts. AS told you, the DIANA is the
only ship that ever got safely through, for
which you may thank your stars; and
though, as ! was saying, there is a gap on
that side, pointing westward, wide stretch
of sand-banks, shoals, and hidden coral
reef render navigation, except for very
light craft, piloUed by men who know the
coast, almost impossible"
80, one way and another. you are pretty
secure from intrusion"
so much So that you and Mr.. Bolsover
will be the first strangers our people Of this
generation have seen"
BY this time we had rounded the head
land. 1t divided the large bay from the
smaller one, which seemed to run long
way inland and terminate in a river or
creek It's sides were lofty and pictur-
esque, with lateral openings into romantic
little valleys, and here and there silvery
stream, overarched with trees, shot arrow
like into the sea.
"Therel That is FairhavenW exclaimed
Mr.. Field, when we were about halfway
up the inlet, at the same time pointing to
commanding eminenCe on the north
west side of the mountain.
Looking through my blnocular, / could
make out number of buildings scattered
over wide expanse of ground, and rising
one above the other, much after the fashion
of n Swiss Alpine village.
"Mab is back. Field, said Fame, gazing
In the same direction.
1.-The flag is flying, is it' All, your eyes
are younger than mine, Amyas."
glanced at them inquiringly.
Look at the large house which stands
little way from the others, near a grove of
acacia-trees, and surrounded by garden"
said Fame
"Yes; | have found it"
"Well, the flag you see flying above the
veranda signifies that Queen Nab is at
home"
but don't see any flag" / said, strain
ing my eyes, and altering the focus of my
binOcular.
as it possible that see better with my
naked eye than you see with your spy-glass'
May II Thank you"
at would seem So" said, handing him
the binocular, and showing him how to
adjust the focus.
After trining with it few minutes, he
gave it me back.
at certainly brings thing a little nearer"
he said. "All the same, can see quite as
well without it as with it. | fear | should
find spy-glass rather a useless incum-
brance"
This incident set me wondering whether
my conductors keenness Of vision, acute
ness of hearing, strength of limb, and
monkey-like agility were peculiar to them
the island.
After awhile, 1 squinted through my
binocular again, albeit felt that the act
was asOmewhat painful confession of phys
zeal inferOrty.
Mr. Fame was quite right | could now,
being mile or so nearer, plainly distin-
guish flag flying from the roof of the
house In which, as l presumed, dwelt the
island queen.
But how we were to reach the place did
not seem quite clear, for shortly afterward
the creek began to trend in the opposite
direction. When | asked Field, he smiled
and said
wait few minutes, and you will see."
The few minutes brought us to, point
where the stream divided into two branches
one OF which forNed off to the right the
other to the left. We followed the latter,
which, after running for mile or more
between high banks, wideued into a beau
tiful lagoon, or, rather, fairy lakelet. In
shape it was oval, and at its widest part
about five miles across. Its shelving
shores were laid out in orange groves and
flower gardens; richly plumed birds skim
med its waters, as clear "a crystal and as
blue as the heavens; gayly painted boats
rode lazily at anchor, while others. trim
ming their wing like sails, floated leisurely
toward channel which seemed to wind
round the base of the mountain.
1t had been rightly called Fairhaven.
Except in Italy and Switzerland, l had
seen nothing with which it could be COM
pared. 1t was rs gracious as Como, as ro-
mantle rs the Lake of our Four Cantons;
and though the landscape may have lacked
the grandeur Of the Alps, the richness of
the flora, the proximity of the ocean, and
the rugged crest OF the mountain. emerg-
lag from mass of verdure and diademed
with silvery cloud, gave this part Of the
Fair Island a beauty all its own.