4 OVER ON THE ISLAND

H

with his glittering eye, while he unfolds his magnificent plan.

“Now my scheme is this. Harr-r-rumph! The Island will be one county. It will be surveyed and divided into fifty parts called hundreds. Each will be divided into twenty manors. In these there will be freeholds. But . . .”

Soon, army and navy officers, merchants, members of Parliament, and many others, were as enthusiastic as the promoter. The Board of Trade was swamped with still more letters . . . applications proposals . . . suggestions .

To- day, as I think of the Island with its green, productive fields, its miles of shore, and its rolling uplands, I see above all the indomitable and persistent Earl striding around his treasured domain. His island is divided into hundreds, manors, and freeholds. In the centre rises his castle, an inspiration and protection to his tenants. King of his own domain! Lord of the Isle! But hark! a baron races up on a horse flecked with foam.

“Sire, the Indians are attacking

”Send the signal from the blockhouse in each hundred!” orders the Earl tersely. ”Bring out the cross-bows and arrows!” He shows no fear as he strides about giving directions. Within a quarter of an hour all the inhabitants are under arms. And the battle 15 on .

The picture fades abruptly. In his hand the Earl holds a letter, and as he reads it, his face clouds with anger. His carefully planned scheme has been rejected for the last time. But as if anticipating the Earl’s chagrin, the Board of Trade offer him any Island

parish which he would like.

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