conceived a great love for the sea and must always be
courting this splendid new friendship which Jan was
too stubborn and too fearful to share, so that all he
could do was to sulk and grow jealous.
§2
One night Goundran took Christophe out fishing
with him, but this was not at all a success, for Chris-
tophe began to pity the fishes as they knocked off their
scales with their gasping and plunging, so Goundran
must stun as many as he could by beating their heads
on the side of his boot — a proceeding which did not
bring much consolation.
Goundran grumbled: cDo not be so foolish, little
godson — they feel nothing at all for they are cold-
blooded. Segnour Dieu, one would think you were
Saint Anthony who when he by accident caught a fish
must immediately throw it back into the water! It
is well to be seen that he was a saint and so was not
forced to gain his own living!' For Goundran rather
pitied the creatures himself, which made him feel
irritable with Christophe.
The lad who helped Goundran to sail his boat was
a clumsy fellow who had no imagination. He trod
hard upon one unfortunate victim, slipped and trod
on several more in the slipping; then he cursed and
kicked them out of the way.
'Imbecile! Do not bruise their flesh!9 shouted
Goundran.
Christophe watched the proceedings in miserable
silence, and observing the anxious look on his face,
Goundran paused in his labours and tried to cheer
him:
'Listen, enfantounet, what about Jesus who caused
the miraculous draught of fishes?9 For the child was
obviously very near tears.