The morning was very calm, and so still that Tom could hear Pansy calling
to him "not to be long" when he was quite a mile up the mountain-side.
Why he took this course he could never tell, but, when he crossed the
top, marvellous indeed was the view that lay before his eyes.

Uncle Staysail used to tell him that the natives of the north say there
is an open sea somewhere near the Pole, with many islands in it, and
trees, and flowers, and birds.

And now, behold! such a sea lay right down in the round valley yonder at
his feet. It was not really a sea, but a lovely round lake, and right in
the middle was a large green island.

Tom rubbed his eyes and gazed and gazed, and then rubbed his eyes and
gazed again.

"Was it all a dream?" he wondered.

No, there was no dream about it. It took Tom some hours to explore this
lake. He walked round it and found that at the far side a ridge of rocks,
very narrow, led right out to the island. He crossed this natural bridge
and found himself in a perfect paradise. Flowers and fruit everywhere,
and beautiful wild birds the like of which he had never seen before.
There were rabbits, too, and very tame they were, for they followed him
about, and seemed to wonder what he was and where on earth he came from.

Tom knocked one on the head, though he was not cruel, and with this slung
over his shoulder, and his pockets full of nuts, he started to walk back.