

PKEFACE-DEDICATION 



Co 

 A. T. 



It is the heat of July, Along this Dalma- 

 tian coast, since early morning, the white tops 

 of the Velebit Mountains have been glimmer- 

 ing and quivering in the rosy air like phan- 

 toms of the mirage. The sky that started so 

 darkly blue has trembled on to evening through 

 every shade of lilac and silver, and the smooth 

 Adriatic lying under it has shown no floor of 

 lapis-lazuli, but in its place the pearl-like sur- 

 face of the opal. Slowly undulating, gently 

 moving, but with no flaw upon its face, the 

 sea has thrown off, hour after hour, the min- 

 gled hues of the Oriental stone. Green of 

 emerald and aquamarine, purple of amethyst, 

 l)lue of sapphire, rose of diamond and gold of 

 topaz, all have passed and repassed; and now 

 at sunset, with every color fused into flame, 

 the scarlet reflection of a cloud in the distant 

 water gives the fire of the opal — the point of 

 high light on its surface. Therefore why not 

 the Opal Sea? 



T 



ISO 



99Q9 



