'CASTOR". 2eV> 



roads of the Esterel, and in a house farther from the 

 shore, and more shehered, many consumptive patients 

 would be better off in spring than in the resorts filled 

 with limestone dust. But it is frequentlT,' cold e\'en here 

 in winter, and this accounts for many specially delicate 

 plants being absent from the dora. 



CHAPTER IX. 



We were particular!}' desirous of making the ascent 

 of Cap Roux, the "Grand Pic'' of tlie Esterel, from this 

 spot. At the same time we wished to \'isit the "Sainte 

 Beaume d'llonorat", and enquired the waA' to it. The 

 landlord offered us his dog as guide — the same dog 

 which had received us at the station. So "Castor" was 

 called. We liad alread\- become better acc|uainted with 

 him, and b)' remembering him at hieals had won our 

 way to his favour. This dog had a remarkable amount 

 of expression in his face; his CA'es were S(.) clear and 

 faithful, and when he looked at us sideways, and the 

 whites of his eyes sho\\'ed, the^' looked so intelligent and 

 thoutrhtful, so very sagracious, that llie\ were almost 

 human. To all appearances Castor understood the mean- 

 ing of many words, and we were therefore not sur- 

 prised when the landlord explained to him that he was 

 to conduct us to the Beaume, and with this object re- 

 peated the word "Beaume" three times. Castor wagged 

 his tail as a sign of comprehension , but nevertheless 

 stood still. "Ah", said the landlord, "I have forgotten 

 the reward which he is accustomed to receive, the one 

 half now, the other at the rave". So the cake, of which 



