Treasure of the Seas: Illustrated — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Treasure of the Seas: Illustrated
John Stuart Mill · en
As they went, the wind increased somewhat, and, as the tide was strong,
the two powers combined to oppose their progress. They therefore did
not make the headway which was desirable, and after one hour of steady
pulling they did not find themselves more than half way to Cape Split.
Still, they did not become discouraged, but rowed bravely on, making the
change above mentioned, and anticipating a turn for the better when once
they had doubled the cape.
At length they reached the cape. More than two hours of hard rowing had
been required to bring them there, and on reaching this place they saw
Bennie’s face still covered with gloom and anxiety. What that might
mean, they did not at first know; but they soon found out. At first,
however, they were too much taken up with their own thoughts, and the
natural pride which they felt at having attained the aim of so long
and anxious an endeavor, to notice particularly any expression which
Bennie’s face might assume. Besides, there was something in the scene
before them which was sufficiently grand to engross all their thoughts.
Among the freaks of nature, so called, few are more extraordinary,
and at the same time more impressive and sublime, than that which is
afforded by this Cape Split. The whole northern shore of Nova Scotia,
which borders on the Bay of Fundy, consists of a high ridge, known
as the North Mountain. With one or two great chasms, like that at the
entrance into Annapolis Basin, it runs along until it arrives at
the Basin of Minas, where it terminates at the sublime promontory of
Blomidon. Yet it hardly terminates here. Rather it may be said to turn
about and seek once more to invade the water, which, for so many miles,
it has defied; and thus turning, it advances for some miles into the Bay
of Fundy, forming thus, by this encircling arm, Scott’s Bay, and finally
terminating in Cape Split. Here, where the tides are highest, and the
rush of the waters strongest, Cape Split arises,--wild, rough, worn by
the sea, and scarred by the storm,--a triple series of gigantic peaks
that advance into the profoundest depths of the Bav of Fundy, whose
waters, at every ebb and flow of their tremendous tides, roll, and foam,
and boil, and seethe about the base of the torn promontory. The cliffs
of Blomidon rise precipitously, and Blomidon itself is the centre of
attraction in the scenery of a vast circuit of country; but Blomidon
itself, to a near observer, shows less wildness of outline and less
of picturesque grandeur, than that which is revealed in the terrific
outline of Cape Split. Taken in connection with all the surrounding
landscape as its centre and heart, Blomidon is undoubtedly superior; but
taken by itself alone, without any adjuncts save sea and sky, it is Cape
Split that the artist would choose to portray upon the canvas, or the
lover of the picturesque and the sublime to feast his eyes upon.