from the
sea. "There they are!" said she simply.

And in fact a black dot showed itself beyond the point. All looked at
it. One would have said a cork dancing on the water. The Emperor did not
see even the black dot. One must be of Coqueville to recognize at that
distance the "Baleine" and those who manned her.

"See!" said Margot, who had the best eyes of the coast, "it is Fouasse
and Rouget who are rowing--The little one is standing up in the bow."

She called Delphin "the little one" so as not to mention his name. And
from then on they followed the course of the bark, trying to account for
her strange movements. As the cure said, she appeared to be giving
chase to some great fish that might be fleeing before her. That seemed
extraordinary. The Emperor pretended that their net was without doubt
being carried away. But La Queue cried that they were do-nothings, and
that they were just amusing themselves. Quite certain they were not
fishing for seals! All the Floches made merry over that joke; while the
Mahes, vexed, declared that Rouget was a fine fellow all the same, and
that he was risking his skin while others at the least puff of wind
preferred _terra firma_. The Abbe Radiguet was forced to interpose again
for there were slaps in the air.

"What ails them?" said Margot abruptly. "They are off again!" They
ceased menacing one another, and every eye searched the horizon, The
"Baleine" was once more hidden behind the point. This time La Queue
himself became uneasy. He could not account for such maneuvres. The fear
that Rouget was really in a fair way to catch some fish threw him off
his mental balance. No one left the beach, although there was nothing
strange to be seen. They stayed there nearly two hours, they watched
incessantly for the bark, which appeared from time to time, then
disappeared. It finished by not showing itself at all any more. La
Queue, enraged, breathing in his heart the abominable wish, declared
that she must have sunk; and, as just at that moment Rouget's wife
appeared with Brisemotte, he looked at them both, sneering, while he
patted Tupain on the shoulder to console him already for the death of
his brother, Fouasse. But he stopped laughing when he caught sight of
his daughter Margot, silent and looming, her eyes on the distance; it
was quite possibly for Delphin.

"What are you up to over there?" he scolded. "Be off home with you!
Mind, Margot!"

She did not stir. Then all at once: "Ah!