80 PASSAGE CONTINUED. 



tant, which the uncertain morning hght makes 

 appear so much nearer than it really is, and 

 whose outline is as distinct as if it were only ten 

 miles off. A bet is of course lost and won on the 

 occasion. The refraction, too, tends to increase 

 the deception. It raises the land apparently above 

 its natural level, and rounding the ends of the 

 islands and promontories, gives them the appear- 

 ance of being suspended in mid-air, and that 

 their greater weight about their centre of gravity 

 causes them to sink lower than natural in that 

 part. 



Now a small ripple is seen in the south-east : it 

 is the morning breeze coming from Sayades, or 

 Gommenizza bay. The keen eye of the coxswain 

 observes it, and hastens, by steering in that direc- 

 tion, to take advantage of it. It is a long time 

 reaching us ; and when it does come, it is but 

 just enough to lighten the labour of the oars. 

 The fore and main-masts are quickly shipped, 

 the lug-sails set, the boatmen resume their oars, 

 and the sportsmen revert to their sanguine anti- 

 cipations of the coming day's sport. One beguiles 

 the time by recounting some well-known adven- 

 ture on the very ground we are about to beat; 



