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The consequence of the operation was, that it settled down eight inches even during the time he remained upon it. So well authenticated and scientific an experiment, evidenced by such a rapid and indeed visible result, decides for ever this interesting question.

"But the records of history give many accounts of floating islands, in other parts of the world; and as some of these are recorded by classical authors, you, my dear Edmund," observed his father," who are just come from your studies, should be able to give us some account of them."

"I think," said his son, after a little reflection," that Pliny has written something on the subject, but I cannot precisely state, at this moment, what it is."

"You are quite right, my dear boy," exclaimed the gratified parent, "in your recollection of one of the authors; for Pliny tells us of a large island that floated about on the lake Cutilia, in the country of Reatinum, in Italy, in every direction in which the wind propelled it. Seneca speaks, also, of similar floating islands in the same country; while on the lakes of Mexico, during the conquest of that country by Cortez, they were seen in remarkable numbers, and were capable of being removed, by boatmen, from one side to another, when in a state of war and attacked by their enemies; a circumstance highly advantageous to their owners, inasmuch as they were highly cultivated, and very productive in fruits and vegetables."

The party had now reached the object of their research; and immediately landing on the island, the three eldest children, with the curiosity and simplicity natural to their age, at once turned their attention to discover the mysterious hole whence the professor had extracted his magic bottle of gas. That the operation of depressing the island in so great a degree, and in so short a space of time, must have left some exterior tokens

to admire and wonder at, they had no doubt whatever; and the juveniles were no little disappointed, after a critical examination, and making the entire circuit of the floating mass, to find no signs of the professor's labours.

"Why, papa," cried Jasper, with an air of surprise, "I can't find a hole large enough to put my finger into; whatever has become of it?"

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"My dear boy," replied his amused father, you must recollect that since the experiment was made the island has been slumbering for several years at the bottom of the lake. And even supposing the hole to have been wide, as well as deep, the additional matter settling upon it during that period. must have filled it up long ago. But the fact is, my dear Jasper, that in order to make the experiment effectual, it was necessary that the hole should be so small in its orifice as only to admit the mouth of the bottle; otherwise the gas would have escaped without filling the vessel, and would consequently have prevented its being ascertained how many inches of depression would be caused by the withdrawal of a bottle full of the fluid. It is, therefore, very possible that had you come on the very day following the operation, you might not have been able to detect the place."

The young gentleman, along with his wondering brother and sisters, appeared to comprehend the reason thus explained, though by no means satisfied with the disappointment of his expectations. After expressing a wish that he also had an empty bottle, in which, on trying a similar experiment, he could cork up a full measure of this wondrous fluid; and after traversing and re-traversing the whole of this fairy ground, with undefinable thoughts and surmises, our delighted tourists finally left the island to sink again according to the laws of its destiny. They now rowed away to the mainland, distant, as before mentioned, about one hundred and fifty

yards, in order to pass the remainder of the day in seeing sights on terra firma.

The first of these to which they directed their steps was "Barrow Cascade;" a pretty waterfall, not far distant from the place where they landed, and situated on the grounds of Mr. Pocklington, from whose delightful residence an excellent view is obtained of the lake.

The superior pretensions, however, of the waterfall of Lowdore, in the immediate vicinity of the former, attracted more particularly their regards. Secluded within a wild glen, the water rushes along, over huge fragments of stone, through a deep chasm, hemmed closely in by lofty perpendicular rocks, from the fissures of which spring up trees and shrubs of various tints and forms; till, dashing from ledge to ledge, the cascade is precipitated to a depth of nearly one hundred and fifty feet from the level whence it commenced to fall. Here the stream is lost, being swallowed up in a deep abyss, from which, through a subterraneous passage, it at length finds its way into the lake. It must be allowed that, after a copious fall of rain, this waterfall forms one of the most beautiful auxiliaries to the lake scenery.

But the sun had now, for some hours, passed the meridian; and as the juveniles were particularly anxious to include within the day's excursion the sight of the celebrated enormous rock called the "Bowder Stone," they descended from the elevated position within the glen, where they had beheld the mountain torrent, and proceeded along the road to the picturesque village of Grange. It is situated at the entrance of the magnificent valley of Borrowdale, on the west bank of the Derwent. The approach to this romantic vale presents, at this place, all the gigantic features of a mountain pass. Huge precipices, crags, and towering rocks, here exhibit to the admiring spectator a most extraordinary assemblage of

stupendous objects, thrown together in the wildest irregularity imaginable, and contracting the passage within so narrow a compass as to leave little more than space for the channel of the Derwent. The impressive grandeur of this wilderness of overhanging cliff and rock, disposed in a thousand fantastic shapes, and rugged pinnacles, and frowning with an almost supernatural desolation, as if from the effect of an earthquake, requires the testimony of the eye in order to realize the startling vision. Castle Crag, which lies at the entrance of this sublime valley, seems at a distance to block up all further access. On a nearer approach, however, a passage is discovered, which, opening on the left hand, conducts to the edge of a precipice, whereon reposes the gigantic Bowder Stone, about a mile from the village of Grange. This enormous mass has been evidently hurled from the neighbouring mountains, for its immense size precludes the possibility of its having been placed there by human efforts, either as a Druidical altar, or for any other purpose.

The form of this prodigious rock is said to resemble a ship, stranded and dismasted. It presents an irregular shape, characterised by various angular points and edges, upon one of which it rests, as a vessel upon her keel. A soft carpet of heath covers its surface, from whence is beheld an extremely interesting view of Borrowdale and its mysterious forms. The position of this singular object is most remarkable in another point of view, namely, that in consequence of its being balanced on a kind of central edge, the two under sides of it are elevated considerably from the ground, so that persons from opposite quarters may creep down to the line of support, within this rather frightful cavity, and shake hands underneath it.

After the junior members of the party had surveyed the ponderous object with all the admiring wonder of youth, and

numerous exclamations, (for it was no novelty to their parents, though always interested by the appearance of it,) the little Maria gave utterance to her surprise by saying, "Why, papa, it is as large as our house."

"Yes, my dear," he replied, " and perhaps twenty times as heavy."

"It would require a good strong pair of scales to weigh it in," archly observed Jasper.

"Yes," said Edmund, with the same sly humour; " and a pretty strong hand to hold them with, I imagine; almost as strong as yours, Jasper."

"And yet," said Mr. Gracelove, smiling at their amusing remarks," the science of geometry enables us to ascertain its weight without the necessity of scales, to which Jasper alludes, or hands to hold them; both of which, in this case, it would indeed be somewhat difficult to find. Its weight, then," he continued," has been estimated at 1,971 tons 13 cwt.: and it is calculated to contain 23,000 solid feet. In length it is 62 feet; 36 in height, and in circumference 89 feet."

It was an observation of the late Mr. Wilkinson, in his tour to the British mountains, that "the launching of a first rate man-of-war would be an inferior operation to the launching of Bowder Stone from its native mountain; for all the men of Keswick, nay, all the men of Cumberland, could not stop it in its right place."

The sun was now fast declining in the western horizon, and Mrs. Gracelove hinted at the propriety of retracing their steps homewards. The boys would most willingly have sauntered about till the sun had set altogether; but, on their mamma intimating to them that other opportunities would be afforded to them of seeing the curiosities, as yet unvisited, of the valley, as well as those of the neighbouring valleys and lakes, they were content to return once more to dulce domum.

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