THE FIRE ISLANDS. 105 



of llglit were reflected strongly from the polished sur- 

 face of the water, while so few came from the dusky 

 beach to make it invisible to the eye. The atmo- 

 sphere refracting the rays from this smooth surface 

 lifted it up from its real level and threw it apparently 

 above the land. At least this is my explanation, 

 and it is rational and philosophical whether true in 

 this case or not. The lady of the mansion told me 

 that she had frequently seen ships at sea directly 

 over the island, when no part of the ocean is visible 

 over it, even from the top of the house. This re- 

 minds me of the report that, in a peculiar state of the 

 atmosphere. Lake Ontario has been seen from Ro- 

 chester lying calm and distinct against the distant 

 horizon. At sea, I have heard captains relate hav- 

 ing seen ships that were not visible from deck, mast 

 downwards in the clouds. Mentioning this circum- 

 stance to the lady, she said she had witnessed the 

 same singular appearance several times from her 

 house. The explanation of this phenomenon I will 

 leave to some one else. 



It was with regret I bid the hospitable, intelligent 

 and generous inmate of the mansion adieu, and 

 turned again towards the city. I know of no life 

 more desirable than that of a large landholder whose 

 residence is fixed on some such picturesque spot as 

 this. 



THE END. 



