68 CLOSE OF THE DAY. RECKONING UP 



characters, form a remarkable contrast with the 

 artful, cunning, and somewhat effeminate looks 

 of the less sturdy lonians, and the merry faces of 

 the peaceable unarmed Sicilians that form the 

 crews of the boats. 



Beyond the picturesque bay, upon which we 

 are looking down from a height of perhaps four 

 hundred feet, is a placid smooth lake — the chan- 

 nel of Corfu, on which the only visible ripple is 

 that caused by the lazy oars of some large fishing 

 boats, which, with their sails flat to their masts, 

 are floating lightly on its silvery surface ; whilst 

 beyond this splendid mirror, at a distance of nine 

 miles, stretches at full length the woody and 

 mountainous Isle of Corfu itself, whose well- 

 defined outline is rendered more distinct by the 

 contrast of its deep purple shade with the fiery, 

 though delicate, red hue imparted to a cloudless 

 sky by the refracted rays of a bright sun which 

 has just disappeared behind it. 



Arrived at the beach, the dogs are carefully 

 stowed away in the straw placed for them at the 

 bottom of the green boat ; guns are discharged, 

 and a general dressing takes place on the beach, 

 some venturing on a swim in the sea, but all 



