ON THE COAST OF AEEAN 145 



catch him when he is not smiling. If you do 

 succeed in coming upon him at a time when he 

 is so far off his guard, the lapse is only momen- 

 tary. Upon the slightest provocation the smile 

 comes back and spreads over his features, as the 

 sunshine spreads over a green field in April 

 when the light clouds are flying across the 

 sky. He would make his fortune among the 

 London studios, and Poynter or Leighton would 

 find him as useful as Hook. In short, his 

 whole personality is a thing to admire and 

 rejoice in. 



With this Adonis of the ocean, then, as I 

 have said, we took counsel and obtained promise 

 of his best help. There were difficulties in the 

 way. The boat was waiting for a favourable 

 opportunity of taking in her cargo of sand and 

 gravel at Sannox, and she might be gone any 

 day ; and besides, we must have for our purpose 

 tolerable weather and a fair wind, neither too 

 much nor too little ; and then we must know 



L 



