Not a bicycle (except that it certainly had
two wheels); not a so-called "ordinary," as those machines with
one immensely high, shining, nickel-plated wheel and a little
dwarf brother following it, were for some inexplicable reason
termed; but an original antediluvian velocipede, a genuine "bone-
shaker": a clumsy contrivance with two high wooden wheels of equal
height, and direct action. Even on the level they required an
immense amount of muscle to drive them along, and up the smallest
hill every ounce of available strength had to be brought into
play. They did not steer well, were very difficult to get on and
off, and gave us some awful falls; still we got an immense amount
of fun out of them, and we scoured all the surrounding country on
them, until all four of us developed gigantic calves which would
have done credit to any coal-heaver.
M. Ducros' sister was a brilliant culinary genius such as is only
found in France. We were given truffled omelets, wonderful salads
of eggs, anchovies, and tunny-fish, ducks with oranges and olives,
and other delicacies of the Provencal cuisine prepared by a
consummate artist, and those four English cubs termed them all
"muck," and clamoured for plain roast mutton and boiled potatoes.
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