ch to see as they could talk of. At every high-water
that came by daylight--and sometimes there were two of them--every maid
in the parish was bound to run to the top of a sand-hill high enough to
see over the neck of the Head, and there to be up among the rushes all
together, and repulse disdainfully the society of lads. These took the
matter in a very different light, and thought it quite a pity and a
piece of fickle-mindedness, that they might go the round of crab-pots,
or of inshore lug-lines, without anybody to watch them off, or come down
with a basket to meet them.

For be it understood that the great fishing fleet had not launched forth
upon its labours. Their narrow escape from the two French cruisers would
last them a long time to think over, and to say the same thing to each
other about it that each other had said to them every time they met. And
they knew that they could not do this so well as to make a new credit of
it every time, when once they were in the same craft together, and could
not go asunder more than ten yards and a half. And better, far better,
than all these reasons for staying at home and enjoying themselves,
was the great fact that they could make more money by leisure than by
labour, in this nobly golden time.

Luck fostered skill in this great affair, which deserves to be recorded
for the good of any village gifted with like opportunity. It appears
that the British Admiralty had long been eager for the capture of the
Blonde, because of her speed and strength and beauty, and the mischief
she had done to English trade. To destroy her would be a great comfort,
but to employ her aright would be glorious; and her proper employment
was to serve as a model for English frigates first, and then to fight
against her native land. Therefore, no sooner did their lordships hear
what had happened at Springhaven than they sent down a rider express,
to say that the ship must be saved at any price. And as nothing could
be spared from the blockading force, or the fleet in the Downs, or the
cruising squadron, the Commander of the coast-defence was instructed to
enrol, impress, or adapt somehow all the men and the matter available.
Something was said about free use of money in the service of His
Majesty, but not a penny was sent to begin upon. But Admiral Darling
carried out his orders, as if he had received them framed in gold. "They
are pretty sure to pay me in the end," he said; "and if they don't, it
won'