As the two alighted at Gare de Sète—they had arrived by train from Paris to the city on the Mediterranean—Marcel Ronan said to Jean Tagauna: "What shall we do before the ocean liner sets off?" "Nothing can be done," replied Jean Tagonne. "According to the "Travel Guide", there are not many historical sites in the city of Sète, but it is very strange. The prosperity of this city began with the establishment of the port. This port is also the end of the Longcuto Canal dug in the era of Louis XIV." "Perhaps this was the most useful thing Louis XIV did during his reign," said Jean Tagona. "The Great King must have foreseen then that we embark here today, April 27, 1885."

"Seriously, Jean, don't forget that Southerners can understand us. Now that we're in Sete, it seems to me wise to visit the city, see the docks, the canals, the harbor, 12 The kilometer-long pier, strolling beside the clear water..." "Have you finished memorizing your "Travel Guide"?" "It is a city comparable to Venice," continued Marcel Ronan. "Its charge is but a small city of Marseilles," retorted Jean Tagona. "As you said, dear Jean, it is not only comparable to the largest city in Provence, but also the largest free port in the Mediterranean region. It exports wine, salt, liquor, oil, chemical products..."

"Import someone as annoying as you," Jean Tagona replied, and turned away. "Also raw hides, prata wool, flour, fruit, cod, boards, various metals..." "Enough, enough!" cried the young man, who wanted to avoid his eloquent and long-winded friend. "The annual import volume of the port is 273,000 tons, and the export volume is 235,000 tons." Marcel Ronan continued regardless. The salt factory, the wooden barrel manufacturing industry with 2,000 workers makes 200,000 large wooden barrels every year..." "I'd like to send you nagging friend a quarter of a million times into a cask. Honestly, Marcel, what good industry and trade have anything to do with us two brave young men? We're not To Oran, to enlist in the 7th African Cavalry?"

"Everything is interesting on a journey, even the mundane things," said Marcel Ronan. "Is there any cotton in Setter that I can plug my ears with?" "Let's look for it as we go." "The 'Agerie' leaves in two hours," reminded Jean Tagonne, "in my opinion it would be best to board the 'Agerie' directly." Perhaps Tagona was right.What can we see in this ever-expanding city in two hours?At least something interesting to see?But if you want to visit it, you must first go to Daioku Pond. Next to the pond is a waterway leading to the sea.The city of Set was built along this waterway.There is also a limestone mountain to climb, which stands alone between the pond and the sea.Looking from the top of the mountain, the whole city looks like an amphitheater. In the near future, pines and cypresses will cover the whole city.The city of Sète is a transportation hub in the southwestern coastal area: it is connected to the road from Paris to Nantes through the Canal of the South Province, and connected to the interior through the Canal of Beaucaire; there are two railway lines, one leads to the Bordeaux region and the other leads to the central region , thus connecting with the interior of France.Isn't all this worth a tourist's stop for a few days?

Marcel Ronan no longer insisted on his own opinion, and followed Jean Tagona obediently.In front of them were porters pushing luggage carts. They soon reached the old port.Passengers who took the same train with these two young people and went to the same destination have already gathered together.A ship that is about to sail always attracts a hundred curious people waiting on the pier.This figure is not surprising for this city with a population of 36,000. Ocean liners from Sète sail regularly to Algiers, Oran, Marseille, Nice, Genoa and Barcelona.On this day, more than 50 people boarded the "Ajielai", a small ship of 800 to 900 tons. The safety of the steamer "Ajilai" is satisfactory, and its captain is Mr. Bukarash.

The "Ajielai" started to light, and the chimney spit out billows of black smoke.At this time the ship was moored in the old port.On the east side of the old port is the Ferundinan breakwater, and a new port is being planned to be built on the north side.Xingang is triangular in shape, leading to the sea by an artificial river.Opposite the Vieux Port is a ring fort that protects the port and the Saint-Louis Breakwater.A channel is formed at the respective ends of the Saint-Louis Breakwater and the Frentinan Breakwater, allowing boats to easily enter and leave the Old Port. Passengers board the "Ajielai" through the embankment.Meanwhile Captain Bukarash was personally overseeing the loading, checking that each piece was covered with canvas.The cargo hold was overcrowded, full of coal, plates, oil, bacon, blended wine, etc.These are goods produced in Sete and exported in large quantities.

Several old sailors were smoking their pipes and talking.Their faces have been wrinkled by the sea breeze, their eyes are shining under their bushy eyebrows, their red ears are big and wrinkled, and their bodies are shaking with the ups and downs of the boat.The sailors talked about nothing more than what made them happy: the next 30 to 36 hours of voyage would make these passengers very tired. "It's a fine day," said one of the sailors. "According to all indications, there will be light winds from the northeast," another added. "It must be cool around the Balearic Islands," concluded the third sailor, flicking the ashes from his pipe with his fingers.

"If there is a strong wind, it will be no trouble to untie 11 knots on the boat at the same time." The helmsman said.He came to the helmsman's position on the deck of the ocean liner. "With Captain Bukarash at the helm, there is nothing to be afraid of. The good wind is in his hat. When it is opened, the sails are blown." These sailors are confident.Isn't there such a sea proverb? "Whoever wants to tell lies can only tell the weather." The two young people didn't care much about these people's inferences, and they didn't worry about the situation at sea and the risks during the voyage. Among the passengers, some were similar to them, and some were not as calm as them. As soon as I got on the boat, I felt headache and flustered.

Among these, Jean Tagona brought to Marcel Ronan's attention a family that had begun to appear - to use a metaphor favored by two young men - on the somewhat overcomplicated stages of the Mediterranean theater. This is a family of three: father, mother and son.My father was fifty-five, with a judge's face, but he was neither a prosecutor nor a judge; he had sideburns like salt and pepper ribs, a prominent forehead, and a thick, five-foot-two frame.This is also thanks to wearing platform shoes.Anyway, it's the usual stocky figure in the "Dwarf" column.At this moment, the man was dressed in checked twill, with gray hair and a hat covering his ears. In one hand, he carried an umbrella in a shiny leather case, and in the other, he carried an umbrella. Wheeled duffel bag with tiger pattern fastened with two leather straps.

The wife is a few centimeters taller than the husband, which is enough to make the husband bow down to her.It must be because of her figure, the lady looks tall, dry, and thin, she looks like a bamboo pole, with a yellow face, but she looks very proud.The black hair in the headband makes it hard to believe that she is 50 years old. Her tall body is wrapped in a leather case made of brown sheepskin and squirrel skin. She wears a handbag with a metal buckle on her right hand and imitation mink on her left hand. Muff warmer. The son is a mediocre person, 21 years and 6 months old.He has a numb expression and a long neck, which makes people often feel that he is naive and ignorant; a yellow beard has begun to grow on his chin, his eyes are dull, and he wears a pair of short-sighted glasses; It looks clumsy and ugly.In short, he is a fool, an empty-headed, ignorant person. In mathematics, he is a "negative number".

This is an unbearable petty bourgeois family.The couple's inheritance totaled 12,000 francs, and they lived on it, doing nothing all day long, sitting and eating. The family were from Perpignan and lived in an old house in the town of Bobignier, where the Tete River flows.They are registered as Mr and Mrs Desrunday, and Mr Akatok Desrunday with the District Police and Treasury. The family came to the pier and stopped before the drawbridge leading to the "Ajielai".Should we get on board or wait?Or take another turn before sailing?What a conundrum. "We're too early, Mr. Deslander," complained Madame. "We will never miss our ship." "Just as you never miss an opportunity to accuse others, Mrs. Desrundale," said his husband in the same tone. The couple address each other as "Sir and Madam" both in public and in private, which evokes an air of affectation. "Let's get on board." Mr. suggested. "We're going to spend thirty hours on this boat that's already swinging like a swing," exclaimed Mrs. Deslander, "and get on board an hour early!" Although the sea is calm, occasionally a wave will roll in, causing the "Ajielai" to shake slightly.This is because the 500-meter-long breakwater dam built a few hundred meters away from the channel where ships enter and exit the port cannot completely block the waves coming towards the old port. "If we're afraid of the waves in the harbour," said Mr. Deslander, "we shouldn't travel at all!" "Do you think I'd like to travel, Mr. Deslander? If it weren't for Akatok..." "However, this is something that has already been decided." "However, that's not a reason to board the ship much earlier." "But we have to stow our luggage, get our cabins set up, and get a table in the dining room. Mr. Dardento suggests that I do that." "You must know that your d'Adamt has not arrived yet!" Madame said stiffly. Madame looked towards the Flondinan jetty in the distance, and the man called Dardento--a remarkable name--had not yet appeared. "Well, you know, he's always one of those people," exclaimed Mr. Deslander, "who always arrives at the last moment! Our friend Dardento always arrives when people are no longer waiting for him and are about to start." Appear……" "Yes, it's the same this time." Mrs. Deslander was very excited. "This is not the first time!" "Then why did he leave the restaurant before us?" "He wanted to visit a friend who was a cooper in Pigolin, and he promised to come on board with us. As soon as he got there, he'll be on board, and I bet he won't be long on the docks." "But he didn't come..." "He will never be late." After speaking, Mr. Deslander walked towards the drawbridge with firm steps. "What do you say, Akatoque?" Mrs. Deslander turned to her son. Akatok didn't think about anything, and never bothered to think about anything.But why is this idiot interested in the commotion and commotion on the foredecks of ocean liners when passengers set sail for business, cargo, and boarding?There was a certain novelty, a certain joy, a certain passion for a young man of his age to go to sea, to travel around a new country.But there was nothing in Akatok.He is indifferent to everything, indifferent, insensitive, unimaginative, and resigned to everything.His father said to him, "Let's go to Oran." He replied, "Very well!" His mother said to him, "Mr. Dardento promised to travel with us!" "We're going to stay for a few weeks with Madame Elisani and her daughter. You saw them last time they were in Perpignan," said his parents. "Very well," he said. Can't see his emotions.It is difficult to tell from Akatok's speech whether stupidity breeds ignorance or ignorance breeds stupidity. When Mrs. Deslander asked her son whether he should go aboard or remain on the quay, she saw her husband walking on the drawbridge, her son following him.Mrs. Deslander had to swallow her breath and followed the two of them and started to board the ship. Two young men were already standing on the back deck.They find this noisy and chaotic situation amusing.They comment on every passenger on board, and express their opinions in one way or another.The ship is about to set sail, and the whistle is deafening.More and more thick black smoke rolled over the top of the thick chimney, and the nearby tall mast was also smoked into a pale yellow. Most of the passengers on the "Ajilai" were French going to Algeria, some soldiers who were going back to the barracks, and several Arabs and Moroccans going to Oran.The Arabs and Moroccans went to second class as soon as they got on board.At the back of the second-class cabin all the first-class passengers gathered.Only these people can enjoy the rear deck, living room and dining room.Sunlight streams into the living and dining room through the finely crafted lattice windows.All first-class cabins are located on the outside of the ship and are lit through flat portholes.It was obvious that the Ajielai did not offer the luxury and comfort of the Atlantic or Ocean liners.The steamer from Marseilles to Algeria is bigger, faster, and better equipped.Should the voyage be short, and the ship should look shabby?In fact, from Sete to Oran, due to the lower fares, there is never a shortage of customers and sources of goods. On this day, about 60 passengers boarded the ship in advance, and less than 30 passengers did not board the ship.Two and a half hours earlier a sailor had started a fire on deck.In half an hour, the "Ajielai" will be unmoored and set sail.Generally speaking, when an ocean liner sets sail, there are not many passengers who are late. No sooner had they boarded the boat than the Deslanders hurried towards the double doors at the entrance of the restaurant. "This boat shakes so badly!" Akatok's mother couldn't help saying. As a husband, you have to deal with your wife's questions all the time.He had to choose not only a three-bed cabin, but also the three seats closest to the restaurant operating room.Because all the dishes come out of the operating room, you can pick the best ones instead of others picking the rest. The best cabin is No. 19, on the starboard side of the ship, closest to the middle of the ship, the pitch is not obvious, and there is absolutely no fuss when the ship rocks.Passengers who do not enjoy the joy of rocking in an easy chair, whether in the fore or aft of the boat, will find it uncomfortable and unpleasant. First choose the cabin, put down the small luggage, leave Mrs. Deslander to pack the big luggage, and Mr. Deslander and his son return to the dining room.The restaurant operation room was on the port side, and they went directly to the restaurant from there, in order to reserve the three seats at the end of the table that he had longed for. A traveler is already seated at this end of the table.The head waiter and waiters were busy arranging the cutlery for dinner at 5pm. It appears that the traveler has already taken the seat.He put his business card in the crease of a napkin on a dinner plate emblazoned with the Ajilai.Needless to say, he seemed to be sitting here until the boat sailed, fearing someone would come and grab the good seat. Mr. Deslander squinted at him, and the other side squinted him back.Mr. Deslander walked over and saw the guest's name printed on the card: Eustache Oleander.He marked the three seats opposite the passenger, then led his son out of the restaurant and onto the rear deck. 12 minutes left to leave the ship.Late travelers were still on the Ferundinan jetty.The whistle blew the last few times.Captain Bukarash was walking up and down on the drawbridge, and the first mate was on the foredeck calling people to get ready to sail. Mr. Deslander was even more anxious, and said over and over again, in a very urgent tone: "He hasn't come yet!...Why is he late?...What is he doing?...Don't you know that the boat leaves at 3 o'clock! . . . he will miss the ship! . . . Akatoq?" "What's the matter?" The son looked blank, not knowing why his father was so agitated. "Did you not see Mr. Dardento?" "Is he not on board?" "No, not yet... What do you think will happen?" Akatok thought nothing of it. Mr. Deslander walked up and down the quarterdeck, looking now at the Frundinan jetty and now at the pier opposite the Old Port.Should a latecomer show up there, it takes only a few strokes by boat to catch the steamer. No one, or no one! "Mrs. Deslander's endless complaints again!" cried Mr. Deslander in a rage. "She's so concerned about her own affairs! . . . But tell her! . . . If you can’t make it within 5 minutes, what will happen?” Marcel Ronan and Jean Tagauna looked on with joy at this desperate man.Obviously, the "Ajielai" is about to unmoor and set sail.If the captain was not notified in advance, or if the captain did not agree to the customary 15-minute delay - which is not often the case on ocean liners - the ship would have set sail without Mr Durant. At this time, the huge pressure of the steam made the boiler roar, and white gas spewed out from the exhaust pipe rapidly.The hull kept bumping against the anti-collision balls on the shore, and the mechanics were debugging the machine to make it work normally. At this moment Mrs. Deslanders appeared on the quarterdeck.Her expression became more indifferent and her face became paler.If it weren't for the troubles in front of her, she would have stayed in the cabin and not come out for the entire voyage.Because she was worried that Dadantuo would not board the ship, she wanted to ask the captain to wait for the late passengers regardless of her physical strength. "How is it?" asked Mrs. Deslander of her husband. "have not reach yet!" "We cannot leave Mr. Dardento..." "But……" "Go and tell the captain, Mr. Deslander! You know I don't have the strength to go up there and tell him!" Captain Bukarash stood on the bridge and watched the whole ship.One order to the foredeck, the next to the aft deck, seemed a little inaccessible.The helmsman stood beside the captain, holding the handle of the steering wheel with both hands, and steering the wheel.They must not be disturbed at this moment.However, under the reprimand of Mrs. Deslander, Mr. Deslander had no choice but to climb up the small iron ladder and climb to the top of the bridge covered with white canvas. "captain?" "What's the matter?" asked the "God" of the ship in a low, harsh voice that sounded like thunderbolts on a stormy day. "Are you going to sail?" "The boat departs on time at 3:00 o'clock...not even a minute..." "But one of our companions has not arrived..." "Bad luck for him." "Can't you wait?" "Not even one second." "He is Mr. Dardento!" When the name was uttered, Mr. Deslander thought that the captain must have remembered something and would agree. "Who is it? Dardento? ... I don't know him!" "Monsieur Clovis Dardent, a native of Perpignan." "If this Monsieur Clovis Dardento, this Perpignan man, is not there in forty seconds, the 'Agerie' will not be waiting... The foredeck unmoored!" Mr. Deslander rolled down rather than from the ladder, and landed on the quarter-deck. "Going to sail?" exclaimed Mrs. Deslanders, her cheeks flushed and pale with anger. "The captain is a bastard! He won't listen to anything, and won't wait!" "We'll get off the ship right away!" "Mrs. Deslander, it's impossible! Our luggage is at the bottom of the hold..." "Disembark immediately, I order you!" "Our cabins are already paid for..." Mrs. Deslander's face turned blue-gray when she thought of losing the accommodation fee for the three of them from Seth to Oran in vain. "The lady has surrendered!" said Jean Tagonne. "She surrendered!" Marcel Ronan went on. She was sure she had lost, but she was still reluctant. "This Dardento...is hopeless! There's no way he's going to get there! Why doesn't he just get on the ship and go to some Pigolin! . . . What? . . . If we don't wait for him, what if we reach Oran manage?……" "We'll meet him at Madame Elisani's. He'll catch us on the next boat from Marseilles." "This Dardento, this Dardento!..." Madame kept muttering, her bloodless face became even paler as the "Ajielai" began to rock. "Oh, it's all for my son, for my son's happiness, for my son's future!" Will happiness and future favor this ignorant imbecile?It is obvious how far he is from his parents, both physically and intellectually. Mrs. Deslander was weak and murmured to herself: "Back to the cabin, back to the cabin!" The drawbridge has just been taken back to the pier by those on shore.The bow of the ship left the guardrail, and the body of the ship turned slightly, aiming at the direction of the passage.The slight noise of the ship's propeller made the water in the old port appear faint eddies.A piercing screech of the siren announced the departure and prevented other ships from appearing on the passage. Mr. Deslander looked for the last time at the people who were seeing off the steamer, all the way to the end of the jetty, to see if there were any late arrivals coming from there... At this time, it was still possible to catch the "Ajielai" in a small boat . "Go back to the cabin, go back to the cabin!" Mrs. Deslander muttered feebly. These misfortunes annoyed Mr. Deslander, and the uproar disturbed him, and he was tempted to leave Dadant and Mrs. Deslander behind.But the most urgent thing at the moment was to send his wife back to the cabin where she should not have left.He tried to help Mrs. Deslander, who was slumped on the bench, but failed.Finally, she was lifted up with the help of a maid.Mr. Deslander helped her down the quarter deck from the gangway, dragged her through the dining room, and arrived at the cabin, helped her undress, helped her lie down, and covered her half-cold body with a quilt to warm up. After the tiring work was done, Mr. Deslander returned to the quarterdeck and scanned all the wharves of the Old Port with furious and terrifying eyes. The latecomers haven't shown up yet.But what can he do even if he appears?Maybe you can only beat your chest and stamp your feet, regretting it too late. In fact, the "Ajielai" has completed its preparations and has come to the middle of the channel.The curious at the end of the jetty are still waving goodbye to the ship. The Ajielai veered slightly to port to keep out of the way of a two-masted schooner.Because the rear guns of the latter had penetrated into the old port.Finally the ship passed through the channel.The captain commanded the ship to round the breakwater from the north and round the headland at a slow speed.