when
and how. Naturally the results of such a policy are serious. There are
many cases of hopeless cripples about here who refused to go to
hospital for treatment when their trouble was so slight that it could
have been rectified. Now the children must look forward to a life of
disability through their parents' short-sightedness. But when I think
of what it means to these poor women to have perhaps ten children to
care for, and all the rest of the work of the house and garden on
their shoulders, I cannot wonder that their motto is "peace at any
price."

Spirits might be called the outstanding feature of our harbour, for
the Piquenais rocks at the very entrance are the abode of another
familiar _revenant_. The Prophet assures me that thirty years ago a
vessel and crew were wrecked there, and on every succeeding stormy
evening since that day, the captain, with creditable perseverance,
waves his light on that wind-and surf-swept rock. In this instance the
prophetical authority is in dispute, for there are those who assert
that the light is shown by fairies to toll boats to their doom on the
foggy point. The more scientifically minded explain the mysterious
light as a defunct animal giving out gas. It must be a persistent gas
which can retain its efficacy for thirty long and adventurous years.

[Illustration: THE YOHO]

In the course of these researches several interesting points of
natural history and science have been elucidated. Doubtless you do not
know that all cats are related to the devil, but you can readily see
the brimstone in their fur if you have the temerity to rub them on a
dusky evening. Neither has it come to your attention that under no
consideration must you allow the water in which potatoes have been
washed to run over your hands. In the latter event, warts innumerable
will result.

Our cook has just come in with the news that supper is not to be
forthcoming. 'Senath was left in charge while Tryphena went on an
errand for me. Left-over salad was to have formed the basis of the
evening meal, but the said basis has now disintegrated, 'Senath having
placed the dish in a superheated oven. The nature of the resultant
object is indeterminate, but uneatable. I solace myself that
sanctified starvation will be beneficial to my "fine and hearty"
figure.

We have suffered again with the dogs. One of the children's birthdays
fell on Saturday, and we decided to give the whole "crew" ice-cream to
fittingly ce