120 



THE OPAL SEA 



The skin of 

 water drops. 



Covering of 

 t)ie sea- 

 surface. 



Stretching 

 of the 

 covering. 



shaking to break. The dewdrop on a leaf may 

 be rolled about very roughly without losing its 

 form ; and the beaded drops that edge a window 

 sash in time of storm are not easily shaken 

 from their moorings. As for the form of the 

 ordinary raindrop, and its persistence in round- 

 ness even when hurled violently through the 

 air, they are both due to the skin or envelope 

 that encloses the drop. 



This same thin covering protects the surface 

 of the sea in periods of calm. It has no name 

 (though the Provengaux speak of a mer d'huile) 

 and is hardly to be analyzed; yet its presence 

 is apparent enough. When a little puff of 

 wind strikes the surface a stretching of the 

 envelope is noticeable, A ruffling and a quiv- 

 ering seem to run over the water. But these 

 " flaws " of wind or " cat's-paws " come and go 

 and leave no permanent disorder. The skin 

 gives like thin india-rubber, but it does not 

 part or break. It is really quite tough and 

 when oil is added to it (as sometimes in storm) 

 the mixture or combination is strong enough 

 to baffle a stiff breeze. 



When, however, the puffs of wind grow too 

 strong or too steady, tlie shivers and quivers 

 that run across the water al last break the 

 surface here and there. The skin envelope is 



