An Iceland Fisherman

h-pickle and bilge-water. The overhead beams came down too low for their tall statures,and rounded off at one end so as to r

k was closed by itsweather-hatch, and the only light came from an old hanging-lamp,swinging to and fro. A fire shone in the

to the sides. Thick beams ran abovethem, very nearly touching their heads, and behind them yawned theberths, apparently hollowed out of the solid timbers, like recesses

ary was fastened on a bracket againstthe midship partition, in the place of honour. This patron saint ofour sailors was rather antiquated, and painted with very simple art;yet these porcelain images live much longer than real men, and

r. These men were ofdifferent ages. The skipper might have been about forty; the threeothers between twenty-five and thirty. The youngest, whom they calledSylvestre or "Lurlu," was on

of space, they seemed to feeldownright c

mless waters. A brass watch, hung on the wall, pointed to eleveno'clock-

e who were still bachelors, or related funnystories happening at home at wedding-feasts. Sometimes with a happylaugh they made some rather too free remarks

"Yann") did not come down below. Where could Yann be, by theway? was he lashed

he captain; and drawinghimself up he raised the s

d glimmer fel

nedhatchway the faint light kept entering like that of dawn. Nearlymidnight, yet it looked like a

smalllamp, "sended" now and again aside, which shed its yell

was a giant. At firsthe made a wry face, holding

ht as a poplar. When hefaced you the muscles of his shoulders, moulded under his blue jersey,stood out like

young lion, answeringby a kind smile that showed his white teeth. These were somewhat farapart, and appeared quite small. His fair moustache was rather short,although never cut. It was tightly curled in small rolls above hislips, which were most

eated, the mugs w

ks--a kind of little brother to them all, more or less related to oneanother as they were; otherwise his work had been hard enough for thed

t must thelasses think of you when they see you roll by?"Yann answered by snapping his thick fingers with a contemptuous lookfor the women folk. He had just worked off his five years' governmentnaval service

y francs apiece. He had bought one without quite knowing whathe should do with it, and before he was much more than in had thrownit with great force at the vocalist upon the stage, striking her fullin the face, pa

here present of areal gold watch."The better to show

arse words and oratoric

the grand solemnity of the ocean around them; in theglimmering of midnight, falli

s agirlish boy, brought up in respect for holy things, by an oldgr

his mother's grave. From the churchyard on the cliff thegrey waters of the Channel,

e theirreligious purity. He was captivating though, and next to Yann thefinest-built lad of the crew. His voice was very soft, and its boyishtones contrasted markedly with his tall height and black

unks aboard, one being double-bert

creptaway to bed in the small dark recesses that resembled coffin-shelves;and the three others went up on deck to get on with their

, like the gleams of asetting sun. Around them stretched an immense colourless waste, andexcepting the planks of t

s toreflect; and in the distance it became a desert of vapou

ne. All wascalm, and the rain had ceased; overhead the clouds, without form orcolour, seemed to conceal that latent light that cou

which are vague and troubledas the background of dreams. They were accustomed to see this varyinginfinitude p

ed by a sleeper. Yann and Sylvestre had got their baitand lines ready, while their mat

y sheen. And time after time thecodfish let themselves be hooked in a rapid and unceasing silentseries. The third man ripped them open with his long knife, spreadthem fl

unreal. What atfirst had appeared a livid gloaming, like a northern summer's eve,became now, without any intervening "dark

r," but he felt shy upon so solemn asubject.)"Me! Lor', yes, some day I will marry." He smiled, did the alwayscontemptuous Yann, rolling his passionate eyes. "But I'll have none ofthe lasses at home; no, I'll wed the sea, and I invite ye

ir bodies remained active and theycontinued their toil, though occasionally their minds floated off intoregions of profound sleep. But the free air they breathed was as

there in great heavy masses; and by theclearness of vision now, it was seen night had passed, and that thatfirst vague strange glimmer was only a forerunner

a belt of intense shadow,encircling the waters

veilingthe infinite, or as draperies drawn to hide the too majest

this were an altar recently raised; and thesheaves of sun-rays, which darted like arrows under the sacred arch,spread in a long glimmering stream over the motionl

ut daring to say anything more. He had feltquite sad when his big brother had so turned the holy s

lass from Paimpol; andthat he would have the happiness of being present at the marriage-feast before starting for th

ather sleepy, drinking in chestfuls ofthe fresh, chill air, they stepped up, drawing their long sea-

ly, laughing at theirbeing so very hard. They had become quite merry again at the idea ofgoing down to sleep, snugly

hey stopped to play withTurc, the ship's dog

r in his quick-changing eyes, pushed him aside with an impatientblow that sent him flying and made him howl. Yann had a kind heartenough, but hi