OUR ISLANDS 151 



between Gardner Island, the largest of Hood's 

 satellites, and this cliff, which was the face of a 

 jutting point on an islet between Gardner and 

 Hood. Its height was as out of proportion to the 

 diameter of the island as that of a skyscraper. As 

 we turned back toward the Arcturus we crossed a 

 shoal that projects from the south side of Gardner, 

 where each big roller, as it piled leisurely against 

 the obstruction, showed in its curling green arch a 

 dozen groupers apparently enjoying the sport of 

 surf-riding. 



As soon as we climbed aboard the ship, I went 

 to the chartroom to find out the name of Islet- 

 South-Of-Gardner. We must have been the first 

 visitors to take an interest in it, for on none of 

 our maps or charts was it considered worthy of 

 more than anonymous delineation. 



Everyone knows the fascination of the minia- 

 ture; witness the steady market for ship models 

 and Japanese toy gardens. It is a kindred feeling 

 that makes islands more attractive than continents, 

 and the smaller the island, the greater its charm. 

 Next day we were in the diving-boat in the lee of 

 Gardner, and the Unknown Isle loomed across the 

 intervening strait, looking more and more mys- 

 teriously inviting with every passing hour. By the 

 time my turn came to don the mediseval-looking 

 helmet and climb slowly down into the misty blue- 

 green world of water, this apparently unimportant 

 bit of land had become the most desirable spot in 

 all the Galapagos. But something always hap- 

 pened to prevent a visit; no small boat was avail- 



