Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-24

shouted. THE books say you have
to shoot 'em in the eye in order
to fetch 'em. | know a trick worth
two of that. Say, but he's a
'beaut!' What do you think of Hes
tor Island Mr.. Carmody? This is
only a starter. You can have more
fun here in week than you can
have i'll New York in a year. Come
out from back there, Mr.. Pence! the
Capt. Waters. There is plenty of
water over there, and We'll go and
take look at him.
During this incident, and in all the
happenings of this eventful day, Hes
tor conducted himself as if the ar
rival and landing on this spot was
an ordinary event which had been
pleasantly anticipated by all on the
shark" The past was forgotten by
Hestor, who acted as the eager host
of a party of gentlemen who should
be delighted with their entertain
ment. Except for brief period of
moroseness-evin in actions and
tors attitude towards his captives
since the SHARK" rounded Cape Cod.
On the morning which opened with
the death of the rocodile-Sidney
Hammond discovered the saurian
was crocodile, and not an alliga
tor-Hestor was in jubilant spirits.
During the day he seemed surprised
at certain hints dropped by his I'M
willing guests. His expression was
that of the willing host who finds
his best efforts not fully appreciated,
and who therefore redoubles his at
tempts to please. He was glad that
the voyage had so happily ended;
glad that all had been favored with
good health, and earnest in his pre-
dictions that his guests would enjoy
themselves.
st may seem like egotism to call
this 'Hestoria,'" he said, as they
were seated at the breakfast table,
"but l practically discovered the
place, and in common with many
other explorers gave it my name.
If you gentlemen do not like the
name you can call it Ravens Haven
or 'Roctwell's Reef or Nincent's
Land or anything you choose. Its
various Typographical features are
as yet not fully explored, and are
unnamed. / am going to suggest
that we honor Mr.. Morton by Civ
ing his name to this beautiful body
of water we are now on. We will
call it 'Morton's Bay"
THANK you,'' said Mr.. Morton. II
appreciate and accept the honor"
II have some surprises in store for
sou," said Hcstor, when the meal was
finished. I'VE will go ashore directly,
and look on something more attrac-
tive than dead alligators or croco-
diles--as Sidney insists on calling
them. All, Capt. Waters, has the tide
turned sufficiently to make land
ing?"
There is now IA foot of water
at the landing" was Capt. Waters
answer. 1--WE will have the gang plank
on shore in ten minutes"
The panorama unrolled before the
gaze Of the voyagers on board the
SHARK" as she slowly headed for a
shelving rock was one of surpass-
ing beauty. Imagine pear-shaped
lake about a mile at it's greatest
width and mile and half in length,
walled in by rocks and crags whose
rugged slopes were softened by the
splendid foliage of the tropics. Ma
ture, in some fantastic mood, had
created this spot, and then as if APP
palled at her work, had wreathed it
with flowers, and chastened it's OUT
lines with the harmony of fern, vine
and palm. The narrow inlet leading
to the ocean was guarded by two
great rocks, which seemed to over
hang and threaten the intrepid sailor
who dared explore and ravish the
beauties which nestled within. These
rocks were fully 400 feet in height,
and unlike those surrounding the
lake, were free from tree or ver-
dure. Through the portal thus
formed, the ocean with its deep and
glorious blue. showed in contrast to
the dark background of these crags.
The surge of the sen came yelling
through this gate, but soon lost its
power. and on the further shores of
the lake its ripples came as but
the futter of the deep breathing of
the sea.
The shores were lined with boul-
ders which had tumblcd down from
crag and peak. At intervals there
We're grassy stretches of meadow,
deep enough to form il foreground
to the darker beauties Of cliff or ra-
vine. Here and there brook triclllcd
from the heights, or found it's tor
tuous way through unknown dells.
And everywhere lavish profuson
of flowers. The base of one cliff
was aflamc with the red of some
flower, the hnmc of which was I'M
known To any of the party. TO add
To this riot nf color there were
toclls of parrots of many and bril-
liant hues, WHILE of hlimming and
knocking birds there seemed to he
millions. ONerhcad an eagle cirelcd
on heavy pinio;,s. and the waters of
the lake We're dotted with hocks of
water fowl.
About a thousand feet from the