its
deeply indented coast line, its dazzlingly white beaches, the outline of
its fringing reef, ay, and the long thin line of its barrier reef, with
its spouting, leaping wall of snowy spray, reaching from north to south,
and spreading far into the deep blue of the ocean to the eastward, were
visible through that clear air with startling distinctness. Why, I
could even detect the evanescent whiteness of the breaking surges far
out beyond the barrier reef, where their crests were whipped into foam
by the scourging of the fiery breeze. I considered that I commanded a
horizon of nearly a hundred and twenty miles in diameter, yet throughout
that wide stretch of ocean there was nothing visible save the island, no
ship save the _Mercury_, floating like a tiny toy upon the placid,
landlocked surface of the Basin. I keenly searched the horizon in every
direction for signs of other land, but nowhere could I detect even the
loom of it. We were absolutely alone here in our lovely island Eden;
and there was no land in any direction near enough to cause us the
slightest uneasiness as to incursions of hostile savages.

Two full hours, by my watch, did I spend upon the summit of the crater,
slowly sauntering round its rim, feasting my eyes upon the surpassing
beauties of the scene beneath and around me, and also sketching a rough
map of the island for future use. Then, sated with enjoyment, and more
than half-reconciled to the possibility that I might be compelled to
spend the remainder of my life amid such glorious surroundings, I set
about to effect my descent and return to the ship, following a route
which I had mentally mapped out, as it seemed to promise easier going
than the one by which I had ascended. Taking my time, choosing my
ground, and winding hither and thither to avoid obstacles, I arrived at
the beach just in good time to go off aboard with the last boatload of
holiday makers, all of whom, though hot and weary with their long day's
ramble, were full of enthusiasm at the prospect of making their homes on
so lovely and fertile a spot and in such a perfect climate.

At eight o'clock that night Wilde ascended the poop and, assuming the
direction of affairs quite as a matter of course, gave orders for all
hands to assemble in the waist in order that the business of electing
the members of council--who, in conjunction with himself, were to frame
the laws and order the affairs of the community--might be proceeded
with.