And yet there is no lack of the beautiful in nature to charm the eye, for the islands present an endless variety of forms, with green slopes, with rocky steeps, and with forest-crowned heights. But one may be lonely even in Paradise; and silence is sometimes more oppressive than the roar of the tempest, or the din of the crowded city. The students had resorted to all the games in the catalogue of dignified sports available to young men; but the most exhilarating under ordinary circumstances were dull and heavy on the present occasion. In the middle of the afternoon they had abandoned in despair all attempts to have "a good time;" and now they were seated on the rocks, or stretched at full length upon the grass, engaged in discussion and conversation. Possibly De Forrest was forced by the quiet of the scene to agitate reform in the affairs of the squadron, which, to some extent, occupied his thoughts during the stay of the vessels among the islands. With the zeal of youth and inexperience, he believed that he had originated a new idea, that he had discovered a fatal flaw in the working of the system on which the squadron was organized. But his "original idea" had long before engaged the attention of the principal. Years before he had foreseen that the very difficulty which now appeared might arise. It is true that he had provided no remedy, except the general rule that an incompetent officer might be removed when his unfitness was apparent; but he had very carefully considered the question and the consequences which it involved.