t^outh's radiant fountain. 



20T 



ooloiB in the clouds that rested on the high peaks m 

 the sontli, while the day was fading into twilight, 

 and the twilight into a piire^ starlight night Near 

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

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

 winged night-hawks swooped back and forth^ feast- 

 ing on multitudes of insects that came ont as evening 

 approached. Far back of those mountaius^ 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 eveiy one who holds it in his hand yomuj 

 again, even when his locks have grov^Ti white with 

 yeai's, and his hand is already palsied with old aga 

 This must be the fountain of youth, which, according 

 to Mohammedan tradition, is situated in some dark 

 region in the tlistant East, and which Mooie in his 

 ^* Lalla Kookh " refei-s to as — 



" youtb*8 radiant fovmtaiii, 



Springing in some deeolate moimtaiii." 



