Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-04-16

tors attitude towards his captycs
since the shark" rounded Cape Cod.
On the morning which opened with
the death of the crocodile--Sidney
Hammond discovered the saurian
was a crocodile, and not an allga-
| or-icstor was in jublant spirits.
| Daring 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 redoubes his at
tempts to please. He was glad that
the voyage had SO happily ended;
| clad that all had been favored with
! good health. and earnest in his pre-
dictions that his guests would enjoy
| themselves.
at may seem like egotism 20 cell
this 'Hestoria," he said. as they
were seated at the breakfast table,
but ] practically discovered the
! place. and in common with many
other explorers gave it my name.
| If Won gentlemen do not like the
name YOU can call it Ravens Haven
or Rockwclrs Reef or Ninccnts
| Land or anything you choose. It's
various Typographical features arc
as yet not fully explored. and are
unnamed. | am going to suggest
that we honor Mr.. Morton by Civ
ing his name 10 this beautiful body
Of water we are now on. We Will
call it 'Mortons Bay"
"'rhanli YOU" said Mr.. Morton. Il
appreciate and accept the honor
II have some surprises in store for
YOU" said icstor, when the meal was
finished I'VE will 90 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 it'd"
turned sufficiently to make land
ing?"
There is now II foot of water
at the landing" was Capt Waters
answer I'VE will have the gang plank
on shore in ten minutes"
The panorama unroled before the
gaze of the voyagers on board the
shark" as she slowly headed for
shelving rock was one of surpaSs-
ing beauty. Imagine pcar-shaped
lake about mile at its greatest
width and mile and a half in length,
walled in nv 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
pa He'd at her work. had wreathed it
with flowers. and chastened its 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 rayish the
beauties which nestled within These
rocks were fully 400 feet in height,
and unlike those surrounding the
lake. were free from tree or YER
tlure. 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 sea came yelling
through this gaze. but soon lost it's
power, and on the further shores of
the AXE its ripples came aS but
the futter of the deep breathing of
the sea.
The shores were lined with boul-
ders which had tumbled down from
crar and peak. At intervals there
we're grassy stretches of meadow,
deep enough to form a foreground
to the darker beauties of cliff or ra-
vine Here and there brook tricklrd
from the heights. or found its tor
tuous way through unknown dells.
And everywhere a lavish profusion
OF flowers The base OF one cliff
was ahamc with the red of some
flower. the name of which was I'M
known to any of the party. To add
to this riot of color there were
focks of parrots of many and brill
, liant hues. while of hummng and
/ hooking birds there seemed To be
millions. Overhead an eagle circled
. ON heavy pinions, and the waters of
the lake were dotted with tlovks of
water fowl.
About thousand feet from the
southern shore of this sheet of wa
t tcr-which licstor had named Nor
tons Bay'-wa> a small island. 1t
was ii gem of an island. BaSaltic
rocks reached UP from the liquid
depths of the bay, and its northern
end was crag, probably 100 feet
above the surface of the lake. To
, the west il sloprd gradually down
| and al low tide there was sand
bar. 1t was on the inner edge OF
) this bar that ilestOr had sighted the
l crocodile. Tall, slender cocoa palms
with their crowns of graceful leaves
aoddcd in the morning breeze. Cau
cho, camphor and dragon trees added
their beauty to this tropical bou
1uet The base of the rocks was hid
;. den in giant pond lilies, ivy an6
a other climbing plants. which fes
;, TONED the sides of the cliffs, as i
=, struggling to join the masses Of
q flowers which o,rrhung the rock'
above.
i, But the water had treasures no
, Less beautiful. Vt a depth of so o1
>, 80 feet the bottom of the lake was
!, clearly visible, Looking over the
sides of the Yacht, the voyager'
!, who were nou approaching the
. shore, saw Swarms of fish WhoS'
sides reflected the colors of the rain
. bow.
Color is born in the tropics. /
: ,, oh Of h,