TOUTH'S RADIANT FOUNTAIN. 297 



colors in the clouds that rested on tlie higli peaks in 

 the south, while the day was fading into tmlight, 

 and the twilight into a pure, starlight night. Near 

 this spot the sand-pipers came and tripped to and fro 

 on the beach when the tide was full, and many long- 

 winged night-hawks swooped back and forth, feast- 

 lug on multitudes of insects that came out as evening 

 approached. Far back of those mountains, near the 

 centre of the island, there is a lake, and on its 

 shores, according to the ancient belief of the natives, 

 grows a plant which possesses the wondi'ous power 

 of making every one who holds it in his hand young 

 agairiy even when his locks have grown white with 

 years, and his hand is already palsied with old age. 

 This must be the fountain of youth, which, according 

 to Mohammedan tradition, is situated in some dark 

 region in the distant East, and which Moore in his 

 " Lalla Rookh " refers to as — 



" youth's I'adiant fountain, 



Springing in some desolate mountain." 



