one of whom, we believe, may try a cause, subject, however, to an appeal
to the forty, and to the Seigneur or Lord of Serque, who is of course
their president. They are their own law-makers, not subject to the
enactments of our legislature, exchequer, or customs; the only duty paid
to England being a sort of quit-rent of £2 per annum.
Our hostelry is in the pretty village of _Dixcard_, a few scattered
houses forming the ville of _Le Vorsque_, the chief rendezvous of the
Serque islet, nearly in its centre. The dingle runs nearly across the
islet, winding for about a mile between lofty brows down to its bay, and
may form a line for our promenading—the northern and the southern walk.
The beauties of the coast of Serque, however, should be revelled in;
they are worth more than a glance and away, and after a rapid survey of
two days, we may wander away in any direction from our central roost,
and be sure of descending in a score of minutes to some beauty of the
rocks, some cove or block or boutique, the names of which, though sadly
mutilated by the islanders, we will essay to record.
Our first walk is by the church and the scattered ville of Roselle and
the Seigneury to the northern cape. This house of the lord is in the
Tudor style, and boasts a lake, a boat, a bowling-green, a flagstaff,
and a belvidere, and parterres and greenhouses of choice and beautiful
flowers; and it is near the head of a ravine leading down to the most
exquisite cave of the islet.
And here we are on the promontory of _Point le Nez_, the first cape on
our scud from Guernsey. The terminal rocks are insular at high water,
but _Le Bec du Nez_ may be reached on a ledge at ebb of tide. On the
brow the schist blocks, traversed by porphyry, are upheaved in the
wildest confusion, and assume an endless variety of form, more so than
the shore blocks, which are washed and rolled and rounded by the waves.
It is a fine wild range to begin with. The turf down invites us even to
an Olympic race, for the pure air elevates both the will and the power
of our frame. We feel our muscular energy almost grow upon us, and when
we have revelled on the turf, then down among the white, smooth rocks
that lie scattered around in chaotic rudeness, like the thrones of
Titanic nobles. But prolific nature has gemmed these blocks for a more
charming study than mythological fancies; there is a garden of lichens
strewn for our special admiration on their surface; there are the golden
studs of _squammaria_, and the grey and purple bosses of _parmelia_; and
if we peep between these stone giants, we shall light on many a lovely
flower and rich green plant, blooming and luxuriating within little
nooks, and nursed by their genial shelter. The _scolopendrium_ and
_hart’s tongue_ are long and broad in leaf, and the _grammitis_ expands
its fronds in profusion; and here we breasted one of the most violent
gales of the Channel, not without some peril, for it was often difficult
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