Consul
about his papers, the understanding being that the boat was to go back
and meet them at nine o'clock.

"That's as long as we shall want to stay, Rodd," said Uncle Paul.

"Yes, sir," said the skipper; "and if I were you I'd turn in early for a
good night's rest, for I'm thinking we shall have dirty weather again
to-morrow, and there's no knowing how long it will last."

"But it looks so bright to-night," cried Rodd.

"Just here, sir," cried the skipper, "and it may be fine enough to tempt
me off in the morning; but I don't feel at all sartain, and to-morrow
night we may be having another knocking about."

They separated at the landing-place, and for the next two hours Rodd was
making himself acquainted with the principal streets of the old seaport,
time going very rapidly and the night coming on.

It was growing pretty dark, and after making two mistakes as to their
direction, Rodd declared that he knew the way, and his uncle yielding to
his opinion, the boy led on, till, turning a corner sharply, they almost
came in contact with a couple of French officers walking in the opposite
direction, the one a tall, stern, elderly-looking man, talking in a low
excited tone to his young companion, whose attention was so much taken
up as he deferentially listened to his elder, that he started back to
avoid striking against Rodd, who also gave way.

It was now almost dark, and the next moment the French officers had
passed on, as Uncle Paul exclaimed--

"Yes, I believe you are right, Pickle. You are. Those are ships'
lights hoisted up to the stays. Well, don't you see?"

"Yes, uncle, but--"

The boy said no more, and Uncle Paul laid his hand upon his shoulder.

"What's the matter?" he cried. "Why don't you speak? Those are the
lights in the harbour."

"Yes--yes. Yes, uncle, I see," said the boy hastily; "but--er--but--
er--"

"Why, what's the matter with you? Don't feel done up?"

"No, uncle," replied Rodd hurriedly. "I was only puzzled; it seemed so
strange."

"You mean you seem so strange," said the doctor, laughing.

"Yes, uncle, I feel so."

"Well, come along, and let's make haste aboard. I don't want to keep
the captain waiting. We have lost so much time by missing our way.
It's past nine, I'm sure."

"Yes, uncle," said the boy, speaking more like himself; "it must be.
But I felt so startled in coming suddenly upon those two officers."

"Why, there was nothing to startle you, my boy."