, in Switzerland, is said to be, by the tourists and the
poets," answered Arthur, to whom the question had been more particularly
addressed.

The last name seemed to please Johnny exceedingly, and after repeating
it several times with approbation, he inquired of Arthur, "What it was
that Olla, in the Cannibal story, called her pet wood-pigeon?"

"Lai-evi," answered Arthur.

"And you said that meant Little Captive," pursued Johnny with great
animation, "and the `Lai' means `little,' I suppose?"

"Yes, `Lai' is the diminutive."

"Well, then, I have it at last! Our lake, though so small, is--"

"Quite a Como for its size," interrupted Max, "and _so_ it shall be
called--"

"Lake Laicomo!" cried Johnny, exultingly.

I am thus particular in mentioning these names, chiefly for the benefit
of all persons engaged in the preparation of new editions of the school
geographies and atlases; and I take this opportunity, at Johnny's
especial request, to call their attention to the matter, in order that
our island and its geographical dimensions may be accurately laid down
and described in future works of the kind referred to.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

THE REMOVAL.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE RAINY SEASON--GOING INTO WINTER-QUARTERS--"MONSIEUR
PAUL"--THE PATRIARCH OF THE LAKE.

"Now Winter comes to rule the varied year,
Sullen and sad, with all his gloomy train
Of vapours, clouds, and storms."

We had now been several months upon the island, and notwithstanding our
constant watchfulness, we had not, during all this time, seen a single
sail. Of the vast multitudes of vessels that track the ocean in every
direction, not one had visited the solitary sea that lay within the
boundaries of our horizon; or if any had crossed the verge of the wide
circle, her coming and departure had been alike unobserved by us.

And now, by a variety of indications, it was manifest that the winter of
the tropical year was at hand. The steady easterly breezes, which, with
occasional variations of south-easterly, had hitherto prevailed, were
succeeded by violent and fickle winds, blowing sometimes from a dozen
different and opposite points of the compass in the course of
twenty-four hours. The brief and sudden showers which we had had at
intervals for some time past gradually became more heavy and frequent.
At length, one calm, sultry day, about noon, a storm, accompanied by
thunder and lightning came up, with so little previous notice, tha