The whole length of it was visible, from north to south, with the waves beating against its headlands, and a fringe of silvery foam girdling it.

The sky was of a pale blue, as though the rains had washed it as well as the earth, and a few filmy clouds were still lingering about it.

The sea beneath was a deeper blue, with streaks almost like a hoar frost upon it, with here and there tints of green, like that of the sky at sunset.

A boat with three white sails, which were reflected in the water, was tacking about to enter the harbor, and a second, with amber sails, was a little way behind, but following quickly in its wake.

I watched them for a long time.