76 



THE OPAL SEA 



Sea under 

 cloud light. 



Pffterlions 

 in shadowed 

 spaces. 



way on the land, if we follow along it toward 

 the setting sun, is apparently darker than the 

 same roadway going to the east. A similar 

 effect is noticeable at sea, for looking M^estward 

 at sunset we see into the darkened portions of 

 the waves, and looking eastward we see their 

 reflected high lights. 



More extraordinary still are the hues that 

 creep into ruffled seas when the blue sky is 

 broken by cumulus clouds, or mantled by veils 

 of the stratus and nimbus. Almost any un- 

 thinkable and unbelievable color may then ap- 

 pear, checking, streaking, marking the sea with 

 strange patterns in odd contrasts. The ordi- 

 nary white cloud which travels slowly across 

 the sky will, if the sea is smooth, cast an ivory 

 reflection; if the sea is rough, it may, in place 

 of reflection, cast what is practically a shadow. 

 This shadow (or as Ruskin prefers to call 

 it, this reflection in a shadowed space) is usu- 

 ally lilac-blue — darker blue than the surround- 

 ing water — and within the shadow the little 

 faceted waves as they dance often shimmer like 

 triangles of blue glass. Again, the gray clouds 

 of the nimbus, that shut out the heavens en- 

 tirely, cover the Avhole sea area with a dull lead 

 color; but when through this veil of clouds a 

 sun shaft breaks and strikes upon the water, 



