er cheeks between her hands, kept
always gazing. A yawl had just put out of the harbor to go to meet the
"Baleine." It was Brisemotte, who had exhibited that impatience, as
if he had been delayed in giving certainty to Rouget's wife. From that
moment all Coqueville interested itself in the yawl. The voices rose
higher: "Well, does he see anything?"

The "Baleine" advanced with her mysterious and mocking air. At last they
saw him draw himself up and look into the bark that he had succeeded
in taking in tow. All held their breath. But, abruptly, he burst out
laughing. That was a surprise; what had he to be amused at? "What is it?
What have you got there?" they shouted to him furiously.

He, without replying, laughed still louder. He made gestures as if to
say that they would see. Then having fastened the "Baleine" to the yawl,
he towed her back. And an unlooked-for spectacle stunned Coqueville. In
the bottom of the bark, the three men--Rouget, Delphin, Fouasse--were
beatifically stretched out on their backs, snoring, with fists clenched,
dead drunk. In their midst was found a little cask stove in, some full
cask they had come across at sea and which they had appreciated. Without
doubt, it was very good, for they had drunk it all save a liter's worth
which had leaked into the bark and which was mixed with the sea water.

"Ah! the pig!" cried the wife of Rouget, brutally, ceasing to whimper.

"Well, it's characteristic--their catch!" said La Queue, who affected
great disgust.

"Forsooth!" replied the Emperor, "they catch what they can! They have at
least caught a cask, while others have not caught anything at all."

The Mayor shut up, greatly vexed. Coqueville brayed. They understood
now. When barks are intoxicated, they dance as men do; and that one,
in truth, had her belly full of liquor. Ah, the slut! What a minx!
She festooned over the ocean with the air of a sot who could no longer
recognize his home. And Coqueville laughed, and fumed, the Mahes found
it funny, while the Floches found it disgusting. They surrounded the
"Baleine," they craned their necks, they strained their eyes to see
sleeping there the three jolly dogs who were exposing the secret springs
of their jubilation, oblivious of the crowd hanging over them. The abuse
and the laughter troubled them but little. Rouget did not hear his
wife accuse him of drinking up all they had; Fouasse did not feel the
stealthy kicks with which his brother Tupain rammed