One pale August evening, the letter that announced Yann's brother'sdeath, at length arrived on board the /Marie/, upon the Iceland seas; it wasafter a day of hard work and excessive fatigue, just as they were goingdown to sup and to rest. With eyes heavy with sleep, he read it in theirdark nook below deck, lit by the yellow beam of the small lamp; at thefirst moment he became stunned and giddy, like one dazed out of fairunderstanding. Very proud and reticent in all things concerning thefeelings was Yann, and he hid the letter in his blue jersey, next his breast,without saying anything, as sailors do. But he did not feel the courage tosit down with the others to supper, and disdaining even to explain why, hethrew himself into his berth and fell asleep. Soon he dreamed of Sylvestredead, and of his funeral going by.

　　Toward............