The captain knew this sea as though it were a lake on his own property.

He took the steamer through shallow depths, seeing the reefs so near to the surface that it appeared almost a miracle that the boat did not crash upon them.

Sometimes the space between the keel and the sunken rocks was hardly two yards wide.

Then the gilded water would take on a dark tone and the steamer would continue its advance over the greater depths.
Along the shore, the autumn sun was reddening the yellowing mountains, now dry and fragrant, covered with pasturage of strong odor which could be smelt at great distances.

In all the windings of the coast,--little coves, beds of dry torrents or gorges between two peaks--were visible white groups of hamlets.
Ferragut contemplated carefully the native land of his grandparents.
Toni must be there now: perhaps from the door of his dwelling he was seeing them pass by; perhaps he was recognizing the ship with surprise and emotion.
A French official, motionless near Ulysses on the bridge, was admiring the beauty of the day and the sea.