CHAPTER XXXII.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2027, 4 July 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XXXII.

The return from the cliff was another and wonderful experience. Prior to this the castaways had only beheld the lake and it i islets illuminated by the sun, irradiated by the moon, or reflecting the 3tellar host. Now they beheld the lake as they emerged from the shrubbery and woods, in the ghastly light of a day whose sun was shrouded. There is no light so weird, so suggestive as this. In it the 'lake realized what they had read in Homer and Uhland of the land of the dead. Tne charm was added to by the ever shifting character of the scenery. As they came down from the cliff, the winding road gavo them ever recurring glimpses of this dream lake, •o like the scenery of another world. It w&s never the same. And when they embarked and lowed between the islets and through the innumerable channels, now and and then coining into broad, still, grey pools, reflecting the foliage, the effeot was mystic and poetic beyond desoriplion. A strange inexplicable mystery seemed to brood over this lake of dreams. Herbert could not help repeating to himself as they rowed away from the mainland into the grey water, the wondrous lines of Uhland : Take, 0 boatman, thrice thy fee ; Take — I give it willingly ; For, invisible to thee, Spirits twain have crossed with me I

There was a wonderful depreaßion in the air, a stillness that seemed to bode some terrible disaster. The earthquakes had ceased, but the aspect of the sky was angry and lowering. The great piles of olouds on the horizon, the streamers that had covered the sun as if with the web 3 of spiders, had all become amalgamated in one thick, grey canopy that never shifted or lifted, and seemed to weigh upon the earth like a firmament of lead. Living beings sympathised with nature. The song of the rowers was hushed, and even Orinora did not sing or speak, while not a sound came from the feathered inhabitants of the island. Nature had for the time cast of! her dress of gold and purple and crimson and green, and donned the grey mantle of the recluse. It was late in the afternoon whon the spectral procession of boats landed on the Happy Isle. John Morden at once set about the prepwations for the solemn events of the night. Orinora retired with her maidens, and went over all they had done. The blush of modesty crimsoned her face when they showed her the bridal chamber, arranged with the singular taste that these native girli had learnt from John Morden and Orinora. " We didn't enjoy ourselves at all at the danco," said Dorala. "Everyone seemed dark and gloomy ; they gathered in groups and talked, and the most of them went away early. The people seem quite changed. And Paranoa never came." " Ho loft our party earlyenough," replied Orinora. "Why, where are the young white men going ? " cried Aherno. The girls ran to the window. Herbert and Ebby were sculling away in the boat. Orinora said nothing for the moment. Aftor what she had heard the previous night, thero was no one she dteaded more than Ebby. She looked on him as the only person who had influence over Herbert, who sought to rob her of her lover. Every movement of his was suspicious. She knew he had for a long time been in charge of the isle which was devoted to the uses of a workshop. What might he not have prepared there? Her heart stood still. She soon made up her mind. Drepsing herself in a close black gown, and throwing a dark shawl over her shoulders, she told the girls to go on with their work, and in a few minutes she was rowing over the lake, keeping in view the young men's boat, but unseen herself. She was perfectly at home on the water, and knew every inch of the lake, Her surmise was correot. Ebby had taken Herbert away to make one last effort to persuade him to leave the island. Not that he told him that was hi 3 object : he merely asked him to come and Bee the workshop iale. As they were going alonp they spoke littlo ; each was busy with his own thought. " I know little about Nature or her operations," said Ebby, however, as they neared the island, " but my reading misleads me if wo are not on the eve of some frightful oonvuldion. This strange stillness, the peculiar pungent smell of the air, the recurring quakes of the earth : they must bo premonitions of some violent outburst of the forces of nature." " Whatever they may be," said Herbert, "we can do nothing. Aranoah says suoh storms are common in these latitudes, but they do little damage on this sheltered lake." " I've read a verse somewhere," said Ebby, "which seoms tp describe my view of this iiland, though it must bo paraphrased a little : " Islets and lakes may flourish or may fade; A stroke can ruin them as ft stroke has made." We walk upon an earthquake. The ocean may gape at any moment and island and all disappear for ever !" " Well," said Herbert, quietly, " and then thtro will be end." They had by this time arrived at the work-

nliop. Itw.ua suii'l ik, ca^-ia. 1 ,, \>\ .>iie t \ round with thick fcicoj, sa that its un-ijitly appurtenances would not b8 aeon. The j yoang men scoured their boat and stapped ashore. A narrow passage through a number of beautiful ahrubs admitted them into the j workshop. Heib?rt gazei round him with i astonishment. Forges, carpenters' shops, engine-houses, met his view. Jthn Morden had not forgotten the practical even in thia island of dreams. Ebby paid little attention to anything ; he walked straight to the other side of i ths island, and hurriediy, for tho heavy fall cf clouds was telling, £.nd the light was fading out fast. Ho led Heibert to a ship or dook, in which lay the lay the largo boat or barque that John Morden had order* d to be built, so j that tho whole of tho party might navigate ( the lake. She was a perfect little model, with sail 3 and everything complete. Herbert at once noticed something singular about the vea3el. A strong cable was secured to a huge i nngbolt in the centre of her deck. This cable inn over into a shed, where a large majority of what seemed nativo cloth was lyiuc;. I " What do you think of this boat, He/bert ? " a"ked Ebby, betraying in hia tones a sup- j piessed excitement ; his eyes glistening strangely. " She is a beautiful little model," replied Herbert; " we will have many a pleasant sail in her." " I hope so, I hope," said Ebby, with a strange inipressivenesa in his voioe, an eager lone. "Do jou think oht would navigate the Pacific ?" " If she were on it," replied Hecbert, aomethiug ironically. " She would certainly stand a storm. Hhe appears made to ride well. Taking Herbert's hand Ebby led him round to the stern of the veßsel. It was growing veiy dark, but Herbert started as he saw in bold white letters tho name: "ESCAPE."^ Tho next moment he felt annoyed." " Why are you always thrusting these idea? before mo, Ebby," he said rather petulantly : " why raise up ghosts that are not wanted on this island." " But they are wanted," said Ebby, firmly, resolutely, " and they will rise whether you call or not. I have brought you here, Heibert, for the la3t time to offer you escape from the terrible fate that awaits us on this island. I have come to show you it is no dream, but a great, glorious reality. All this I have known for gomo time, but I would not epeak until O6rtain. I ohosa to let you know gradually. Bear with me while I explain. If you persevere with your refusal I will give in." " I do not wish to pain you, Ebby," said Herbert, who spoke, however, with constraint, aud whose eyes were fixed on the name of the vessel, '^but really you are labouring for nothing. I have passed my word to a man and woman who depend on it: I will, not bieak my word." "Be that as it may," said Ebby, "let me explain what I have done, what I propose to do."