202 LE TRAYAS. 

 A 



of oil on the water, to calm the surface, which is 

 ruffled b\ the breeze. The oars are at rest. Suddenly 

 the harpoon slioots through the deep and impales a 

 fish with its barbed prongs; the fish fs drawn up struggl- 

 ing and cast into the boat. Much skill and practice 

 is required for this kind of fishing. It is necessary,' 

 to take into account not onU' the rnotion of the fish, 

 but also the refraction of light b^■ the water, which mis- 

 leads the e\'e as to the real position of the fish. We 

 gave up the fishing. This one victim satisfied us. Slowh' 

 our fire died out and we again glided peacefully over 

 the wide sea sprinkled with silver stars. 



Le Tra\'as is completeh* sheltered from the Mistral : 

 Cap Roux Avards it off with its broad back. And while the 

 streets of Cannes and Nice are enveloped in thick clouds 

 of dust, there is not a breath of air here, and one can 

 sit and sun oneself comfortably in the" open air in front 

 of the house. The east wind is what we have to fear, 

 for it blows with full force here. It rushes straight upon 

 the mountain which bars its way, rebounds from the 

 high rocks and sweeps round them with howling rage. 

 The sea seems as though it would flee in terror 

 o\'er the solid land, but the foaming waves break help- 

 lessly upon the unyielding rocks. They surge about in 

 the caves, seeking an outlet upwards, and strike with 

 such violence against the roof that the whole shore re- 

 verberates. There is no question then of sleep at night 

 in the little house, and if \'ou at last doze off it is only 

 to dream of horrors and to awaken suddenly in fear and 

 trembling. E\'en then there is no dust nn the porph\ r\- 



