Таинственный остров

           ThelimpidwatersoftheRedCreekflowedunderanarchofcasuannas,banksias,andgiganticgum-trees.Superblilacsrosetoaheightoftwentyfeet.Otherarborescentspecies,unknowntotheyoungnaturalist,bentoverthestream,whichcouldbeheardmurmuringbeneaththebowersofverdure.

           Meanwhilethestreamgrewmuchwider,andCyrusHardingsupposedthattheywouldsoonreachitsmouth.Infact,onemergingfrombeneathathickclumpofbeautifultrees,itsuddenlyappearedbeforetheireyes.

           TheexplorershadarrivedonthewesternshoreofLakeGrant.Theplacewaswellworthlookingat.Thisextentofwater,ofacircumferenceofnearlysevenmilesandanareaoftwohundredandfiftyacres,reposedinaborderofdiversifiedtrees.Towardstheeast,throughacurtainofverdure,picturesquelyraisedinsomeplaces,sparkledanhorizonofsea.Thelakewascurvedatthenorth,whichcontrastedwiththesharpoutlineofitslowerpart.NumerousaquaticbirdsfrequentedtheshoresofthislittleOntario,inwhichthethousandislesofitsAmericannamesakewererepresentedbyarockwhichemergedfromitssurface,somehundredfeetfromthesouthernshore.Therelivedinharmonyseveralcouplesofkingfishersperchedonastone,grave,motionless,watchingforfish,thendartingdown,theyplungedinwithasharpcry,andreappearedwiththeirpreyintheirbeaks.