official process with the Emperor. At last La Queue appeared. He was
livid; he said to the _garde champetre_: "Hold your peace! It's Rouget
who has sent you here to beguile me. Well, then, he shall not get it.
You'll see!"

When he saw the "Baleine," three hundred metres out, making with all her
oars toward the black dot, rocking in the distance, his fury redoubled.
And he shoved Tupain and Brisemotte into the "Zephir," and he pulled out
in turn, repeating: "No, they shall not have it; I'll die sooner!"

Then Coqueville had a fine spectacle; a mad race between the "Zephir"
and the "Baleine." When the latter saw the first leave the harbor, she
understood the danger, and shot off with all her speed. She may have
been four hundred metres ahead; but the chances remained even, for the
"Zephir" was otherwise light and swift; so excitement was at its height
on the beach. The Mahes and the Floches had instinctively formed into
two groups, following eagerly the vicissitudes of the struggle, each
upholding its own boat. At first the "Baleine" kept her advantage, but
as soon as the "Zephir" spread herself, they saw that she was gaining
little by little. The "Baleine" made a supreme effort and succeeded
for a few minutes in holding her distance. Then the "Zephir" once more
gained upon the "Baleine," came up with her at extraordinary speed.
From that moment on, it was evident that the two barks would meet in
the neighborhood of the cask. Victory hung on a circumstance, on the
slightest mishap.

"The 'Baleine'! The 'baleine'!" cried the Mahes.

But they soon ceased shouting. When the "Baleine" was almost touching
the cask, the "Zephir," by a bold maneuvre, managed to pass in front of
her and throw the cask to the left, where La Queue harpooned it with a
thrust of the boat-hook.

"The 'Zephir'! the 'Zephir!" screamed the Floches.

And the Emperor, having spoken of foul play, big words were exchanged.
Margot clapped her hands. The Abbe Radiguet came down with his breviary,
made a profound remark which abruptly calmed the people, and then threw
them into consternation.

"They will, perhaps, drink it all, these, too," he murmured with a
melancholy air.

At sea, between the "Baleine" and the "Zephir," a violent quarrel broke
out. Rouget called La Queue a thief, while the latter called Rouget a
good-for-nothing. The men even took up their oars to beat each other
down, and the adventure lacked little of turning into a naval combat.