第17部分(第4/7 頁)

endently　of　my　will；　and　no　link　appearing　between　one　scene　and　the　next。

Ten　minutes　ago　I　was　talking　with　my　gardener。　Our　topic　was　the　nature　of　the　soil；　whether　or　not　it　would　suit　a　certain　kind　of　vegetable。　Of　a　sudden　I　found　myself　gazing　at……the　Bay　of　Avlona。　Quite　certainly　my　thoughts　had　not　strayed　in　that　direction。　The　picture　that　came　before　me　caused　me　a　shock　of　surprise；　and　I　am　still　vainly　trying　to　discover　how　I　came　to　behold　it。

A　happy　chance　that　I　ever　saw　Avlona。　I　was　on　my　way　from　Corfu　to　Brindisi。　The　steamer　sailed　late　in　the　afternoon；　there　was　a　little　wind；　and　as　the　December　night　became　chilly；　I　soon　turned　in。　With　the　first　daylight　I　was　on　deck；　expecting　to　find　that　we　were　near　the　Italian　port；　to　my　surprise；　I　saw　a　mountainous　shore；　towards　which　the　ship　was　making　at　full　speed。　On　inquiry；　I　learnt　that　this　was　the　coast　of　Albania；　our　vessel　not　being　very　seaworthy；　and　the　wind　still　blowing　a　little　（though　not　enough　to　make　any　passenger　unfortable）；　the　captain　had　turned　back　when　nearly　half　across　the　Adriatic；　and　was　seeking　a　haven　in　the　shelter　of　the　snow…topped　hills。　Presently　we　steamed　into　a　great　bay；　in　the　narrow　mouth　of　which　lay　an　island。　My　map　showed　me　where　we　were；　and　with　no　small　interest　I　discovered　that　the　long　line　of　heights　guarding　the　bay　on　its　southern　side　formed　the　Acroceraunian　Promontory。　A　little　town　visible　high　up　on　the　inner　shore　was　the　ancient　Aulon。

Here　we　anchored；　and　lay　all　day　long。　Provisions　running　short；　a　boat　had　to　be　sent　to　land；　and　the　sailors　purchased；　among　other　things；　some　peculiarly　detestable　bread……according　to　them；　cotto　al　sole。　There　was　not　a　cloud　in　the　sky；　till　evening；　the　wind　whist