ought of it now.

"Just the same as I did before, my lad," he replied bluntly. "Here,
it's only mid-day, and mid-day aren't to-night, and to-night aren't
to-morrow morning. Just you wait."

"Oh, I'll wait," said Rodd, "but I think we ought to start off as soon
as we can, and get right away to sea."

"Do you?" said the captain gruffly. "Well, I don't."

After dinner Uncle Paul had a few words with the skipper, and then shook
his head at his nephew, who was watching them inquiringly.

"No, my lad," he said, "it won't do; the captain says there's more bad
weather coming; but we'll go and have a look round the town if you
like."

Rodd did like as a matter of course, and with the sun now shining
brightly as if there were no prospect of more rain for a month, they
were rowed ashore, Rodd noticing as they went that the crew of the brig
seemed to be very busy, a couple of boats going to and fro fetching
stores of some kind from the nearest wharf, but what he could not make
out.

Then came a good ramble through the busy place, where everybody seemed
to be taking advantage of the cessation of the storm, and Rodd noted
everything to as great an extent as a hurried visit would allow.

There was plenty to see, the forts, one each side of the harbour, and a
couple more on the higher ground, displaying their grinning embrasures
and guns commanding the harbour and the town, while soldiery in their
rather shabby-looking uniforms could be seen here and there, and
sentries turned the visitors back upon each occasion when they went
near.

"Rather an ugly place to tackle, Rodd, from the sea, but I suppose our
fellows wouldn't scruple about making an attack if there were any need.
But here, I think we had better get back on board."

"Oh, not yet, uncle. I haven't half seen enough."

"But I am getting sick of this tiresome wind," said Uncle Paul. "One
can't keep on one's hat, and it is just as if these gusts were genuine
French, and kept on making a rush at us from round the corners of the
streets as if they wanted to blow us into the harbour."

"Yes, it is rather tiresome," replied Rodd. "But I should have liked to
have had a look inside one of those batteries."

"Pooh! What do you want to see them for?"

"Why, just because they are French, uncle."

"Nonsense! You have seen all ours on the heights of Plymouth, and they
are a deal better-looking than these. We have a good way to walk, so
let's go down at once. The