164 THE IMAGE OF WAE 



long since learnt the impossibility of making Levan- 

 tines and similar people see the difference between 

 sport and slaughter. It is very strange that they 

 should think us capable of taking long and expensive 

 journeys merely to witness (or perhaps not even 

 actually see) the wild animals we have come so far to 

 seek being killed by others. On my return I saw the 

 sportsman in question with a Gras rifle and a ruck- 

 sack on his back, going down to embark on a ship 

 conveying volunteers to Crete. The young French- 

 speaking sailor who had been interpreting for me 

 also offered to come if he could be of any use. I did 

 not see that he could be, so refused his offer, and this 

 refusal I had afterwards reason to deeply regret. 



I had fixed the next day, the second of my stay, 

 for my departure for Antimilo, but the northerly wind 

 was so high that Crusoe declared it would be im- 

 possible to land there. I could therefore only wait ' 

 patiently, and occupy the time with a visit to the 

 ancient Melos, with its amphitheatre and other 

 antiquities. The amphitheatre has a fine view over 

 the harbour, with Antimilo in the distance. From 

 this point of view the islet looks not unlike the Rock 

 of Gibraltar, and it is about the same length, but 

 the resemblance does not bear the test of closer 

 inspection. 



The natives of Milo seem to consider the place 

 where the celebrated Venus was found as the most 

 interesting thing they have to show, but there is of 

 course nothing to be seen there but a ploughed field. 

 It was interesting, however, to be assured that the 

 statue was unearthed complete, and that the arms 

 were broken off and dropped into the sea in the 

 struggle between the French who were removing it 



