CHAPTER VII.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1997, 25 April 1885, Page 5 (Supplement)

CHAPTER VII.

The little party turned round at onco, and saw coming towards them with slow but sturdy steps, ft very aged and venerable looking man. He was tall and robust, and evidently had in his youth been eminently strong and handsome. Even now there was no evidence in his step and movements of decay ; on the contrary, he seemed as vigorous aa any of the youths there. But bis aspect was venerable, and his face somewhat bron/ed. A beard, white aa the driven snow, descended to bid waiat, and his hair, equally white, floated over his shoulders. He was dressed in a looee grey robo, secured by a belt, the material of which was hidden by a rich embroidery of gold and silver ooins. From his neck foil a heavy gold chain, to which a watch was attached, half hidden in a fur-oovered pocket: He had on a light straw hat, and like hifl daughter, wore sandals. The girl ran to meet her father, and flung herself on his breast, giving him a kiss. It was evident to the strangers that the island chieftain was troubled. There seemed to them to be a scowl upon his face. Harry, who wai more skilled than the others in reading countenances, thought there seemed * struggle between pleasure and apprehonsion. " Father, dear father," said the girl, without noticing her parent's agitated faue, " the goda have come at last, from The glorious star, That is named Achrnar, Which Bhmes from afar Through the apangled 10a ! Yes, father, ihe messengers from the Hereifter have come." " Child, child," said the old man, " you know not what you say. What if they are not from the Hereafter, if they come from the World of Sin to destroy our happy isle ? " " Oh, father, that cannot be," cried the girl" — at least not him (dhe pointed at Herbert), nor him (Ebby) ; the other (Harry) may not come from the Hereafter, but I hardly think he is from the World of Sin." " Orinora," aaid her father, " I wish the Great Power had ordered things so that these had never landed on our shores, and yet — and yet," ho muttered to himself, " how I have longed for the face of one of my own people for years : longed and dreaded. Well, there is nothing else for it now; they are atrangers ; they must be entertained." He stood for a moment before he advanced to welcome the party, who were respectfully waiting, uncertain ho* they would be received. There was a strange majesty and powei in this venerable man's face and form that impressed is visitors. As for himself, it was evident he was strongly moved. These men had called up to him the vanished years, and the life that lmd long been buried flashed through hit) brain in a vivid panorama. " Gentlemen," said he advancing, with his hand open, his daughter clinging to his arm, •• I welcome you to our Happy Isle. I can but guesa thai you came here as I did, that the deceitful current drapged you into the terrible gulf which takes in all and returns nothing—a lit emblem of that eternity to which f/e are all hastening." Sjr," gaid Herbert, taking the old gentleronnV hand, " Your gurmmeß are correct. I am the owaer of a yacht wlncb was pleasuring in theses sea 5 !. A calm came on, and we wont in a boat to orplore the ooast, when wo got into the sweep of the current, and were shot into tho gulf ; to emerga, when we had given up all hope of life, in this placid lake, in ibis enchanting Paradise." Many years ago," said the old man dreamily, " that was ray fate. I was one of the crew of a vessel that was seized by the current. The roof of the chasm is high, and by great good fortuno our ship kept in the centre, and reached this haven, never te emerge."

' Then," q unit d Hubert, " this is setUed withwhite irifn, the descendants of that crew ? " " No, was the still dreamy reply ; " but of that another time. You must we worn out witn your terrible experience— l wonder your hair did not turn grey ; mine did. Allow me to introduce myself, the Sovereign of the Island, known hero as Aranoah. This ia my daughter — you have met her already. Her uame is Orinora. My name means in the language of the Island, the Mighty ; hers, the Lovely, the Pearl." The three young men bowed, "This gentleman," said Herbert, "is Mi. Rbenezer Smith, and this, Mr. Harry Forbea " "Forbes," interrupted the old man, " Forbes, Forbes— l think I remember. But it is so long ago. Did not his father belong to Sydney?" " He did, sir," said Harry. "Yes, yes," continued the old man, a<3 if talking to himaolf, " I recollect now. How very strange." "My name, sir," continued Herbert, " is Herbert Gifford." The Sovereign of the Island started back as if a deadly serpent had reared itaelf at his feet. He put his hand to his heart, and thiew up hiu eyes, his tanned face becoming a ghastly grey. " Father, father, are you ill ?" cried Orinora in great distress. "No, no," he said, as if choking, never taking his eyeß off Herbert, who waa concerned and alarmed. " Herbert Gifford— Gifford— GifTord. The son of William Gifford, equatter, of Victoria?" " Yes, sir," leplied Herbert, hardly knowing what to say or do, so terrible seemed the agitation of the old man. " God in Heaven," cried the Sovereign of the Island, " that this should happen. Surely it is Thy hand 1" " Father, father," moaned Oriaora, " oh, what is the matter. The old man made no reply. He was endeavoring to master himself, to overpower the feelings kept down for years, now called into activity by the presence of his visitors. The memories that were called up must indeed havo been terrible, so violent was his .igitation. Drops of perspiration Btood on hia brow. Gradually, however, he became more subdued, and seemed to master his emotions, though never taking his eye oft Herbert, who seemed to have for him a dreadful fascination. ■. \ " Gentlemen," he said eventually, when he had regained some composure, " you must excuse my agitation. Your namea called up to me, long isolated from civilised society, very painful, very harrowing memories. It ia but natural. But I will soon recover. Orinora, my child, these strangers require refreshment and redt after their battle with death and the gulf ; hasten home and let the table be made ready. Meantime, gentlemen, [ will show you round the Happy Islo, this island within an island — that is, if you are not too weary." "Not at all," replied Hariy; we had quite a rest on the lake, and lunched magnificently off the fruit. You may look upon us as poachers." " Not at all, not at all," said Aranoah ; " there is no property here ; wo have everything in common." Without further remark he led the way along a path of comminuted red coral, elegantly kerbed with coral of a creamy tint, which circled the island. He was evidently in deep thought, and for a time did not speak. Occasionally, however, he would raise his sha<igy eyebrows and look long and searchmgly into Herbert's face. Once or twice they heard him mutter : " There is no re sernblanco ; he never looked ilke that in his youth ; and yet I can trace some likeness. If he were hero I" and then he would set his teeth and stride on. The path encircled the island, which was in the shape of a cone, on the top of which was the fantastic wooden building that served for the Sovereign's aj>ode. From thid path others ran at intervals in an eccentric manner to the dwelling. The slopo near tho water waa thickly grassed, with here and there beds of the loveliest flowers, arranged so as to give perfect contrast of color, and make a harmonious whole. Beautiful trees rose here and there, but uot so as to break tho view, and fantastically traiued shrubs were a feature. All was intended for appearance; no utilitarian plant intruded itself. The effect was ravishing to the artistic eye : this beautiful island, laved by the crystal water of a lovely blue, surrounded by dream islets, on which grew every beautiful plant and tree of the tropics, evidently subdued and kept in order by laborers under the superintendence of an aitistic eye ; the background, the grand circle of mountains that formed the outer inland, clothed with the richest and most graoeful vegetation. Over all there brooded a stillness and silence that seemed to belong to the land of the Lotus eaters. The waters rippled with a musical sound against the shores, the air hardly stirred, and then only to waft the sweetest perfumes to the senses ; the glorious sun brightened and glorified all, shining out of a concave sapphire. Not a soul but the party was to be seen ; not a sign of human toil. Surely they had reached the Islands of the Blesped. Ono thing the young men noticed in this silent perigrination : a number of stout, copper stakes or wires, rising up everywhere at the edge of the water and forming a fence. They remarked this, but said nothing. At last the walk brought them to the pier, where they now noticed a gate of similar construction was open. "Now gentleman," said Aranoah, " let me show you my home."