Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-03-28
CHAPTER XyL.-oUEEN NAB.

CHAPTER XyL-QUEEN NAB.
We landed in little cove from which a
steep zigzag path, winding among great
cedars and towering palm-trees, led to the
town-so steep, that being out of condition
with our long life at sea, Tom and found
some difficulty in keeping up with our
companions, who could hardly have walked
faster if we had been competing for a prize
We two were continually tagging behind,
and more than once Fame gave Us a look
which expressed both pity and contempt
as if he thought Us very poor creatures in
deed. This riled me exceedingly, and did
my utmost to overtake him; but he was in
splendid fettle; the more l stroYe the faster
he went, and when after fifteen minutes
squirt we reached the town. 1 was COM
pletely blown and bathed with perspira-
ton, while he was not even flushed, and
breathed as quietly as an infant. I began
to dislike Mr.. Amyas Fame.
AS for poor old Tom, we had left him
half a mile behind, dead-beat, sitting on a
stone, and hopping his face with an an
cient bandana pocket-handkerchief.
The town-village. rather. though It wss
the capital of the island and the seat OF
1oyalty-consisted of two or three hundred
wooden houses. Some of them were rude
II the extreme, being little more than log
huts; others were larger and more preten-
tious, built of boards, with verandas and
external galleries, and brightly painted.
All were matched, and being more or less
mantled with greenery and begirt with
gardens, the general effect was gay and
picturesque.
In the center OF the village was a large
square, on one side of which stood the
church, distinguished by wooden tower,
and on the other still larger building,
known as Government House, used for
meetings, public offices, and the like.
All the people we met were more or less
piebald. Some bore general resemblance
TO my companions, others were of the same
type as the boatmen whom I have already
described.
At last we reached the house where the
nag was flying. 1t was the largest l had
yet seen. Thatehed. like all the rest, it
had several high-pitched gables, ana
wide porch with overhanging caves. An
open gallery ran round the building at the
level of the upper story. Beneath the gal
lery was veranda, supported by wooden
pillars and festooned with vines.
A narrow path, winding between dwarf
palm-trees and rhododendrons in full bear
ing, led up to the porch.
Two or three young women, with mot
tied compilations, were sitting in the We
randA One was reading. another knit
ting, third seemed to be spinning some
thing with distaff; but as | had never seen
anybody spin with a distaff, l could not be
quite sure. These young women were all
tall, well formed, and extremely graceful
in their movements, for which their some
what airy and easy-ftting garments offered
every facility, and their sandaled feet were
innocent of hose.
After greeting them gravely and court
eously Gan example that Tom and I were
careful to follow, Mr.. Field inquired if
"she" was in.
On receiving an answer in the affirma-
tive from the maiden who seemed to be
most in authority, he requested her to an
nounce him and his companions, and ask
whether it would please the queen to re-
ceive US. The maiden bowed compliance,
entered the house by the porch, and in two
minutes came back to say that her mistress
had been waiting for US all the afternoon
with the greatest 1mpatience, and that we
were to go in at once; whereupon our con-
ductors, reckoning Tom and me to follow
them, went in without further ceremony.
The porch opened into a wide vestibule,
at the end Of which was a door. We crossed
the vestibule together, and on reaching the
door Mr.. Field gave sharp knock with
his knuckles.
"Come imp answered low and musical,
yet, as / thought, a somewhat peremptory
voice.
CATER you," said Field to me, opening
the door,
I obeyed him without hesitation, though
not without trepidation, for my education
in the etiquette Of Courts having been
somewhat neglected, I had not the least
idea what was the right thing to do in the
circumstances-wheth I should enter on
Bonded knee, kiss the queens hand, speak
first, or wait until | was spoken to. Ihad,
moreover, an idea Zone does get strange
ideas sometimes) that her majesty was
likely to be a grabbed old woman with a
fat body and a sharp tongue. However,
in [ went-walked into the middle of the
room (rather large one) with as much
composure as I could muster-and then
stopped short in mute surprise.
At an open casemate, which commanded
a view of the mountain, the lake, and sea,
sat young woman reading a book with
an ancient binding much the worse for
wear. At her feet crouched an animal
which at first sight / took for huge mas
tiff, but when the creature rose to its feet.
showed row of fierce-looking teeth, and
wagged a tail about yard long saw that
it was wild beast, and, if not lion or a
lioness, uncommon1y like one.
SsDon't be alarmed" said Queen Nab,
pleasantly. "It is only my pet puma; he
is not used to strangers. Down, Gator
Whereupon Cato resumed his recumbent
position, greatly to my relief.
''Mr. Erie, a passenger by the DIANA
the ship that anchored in the bay this
morning." announced Mr.. Field.
'Welcome to Fair Islandp' said the
queen, rising from her chair and Offering
me her hand.
I took the hand and kissed it-a pro-
ceeding which nobody seemed to expect,
for Mr.. Field made q gesture of surprise
and Mr.. Amyas Fame scowled. The queen,
however, seemed n no way displeased-
She smiled, bowed graciously, and then re-
garded me earnestly and curiously. l re-
turned the look with interest; could not
help it. l should have done the same had
she been ten royal personages rolled into
one.
Never was woman better worth looking |
at than Queen Nab. She was within two |
inches of my own height, beautifully pro-
portioned and faultlessly shaped. A tight |
fitting dress of some dark glossy material |
set off her form to the best advantage. |
Round her waist was pearl-studded
girdle; she wore a necklace to match, and
each of her arms was encircled with a cur
iously wrought bracelet of gold. Her face
was, moreover, white, and her complexion
pure. A mass of black curls rested like a