cope--"it is very queer, but I cannot make out the British fleet in
there, surely we ought to see them from where we now are?"

"Not if they are in the inner harbour, which I--aw--suspect they are.
The Italian bwig which came in on the day we sailed was from Marseilles,
and her master weported a succession of stwong easterly winds
hereabouts, which would natuwally send the Bwitish fleet farther in; we
shall find them there all wight; where else could they be?" remarked the
skipper.

"Very true, sir," observed the first lieutenant. "Shall we fill on her
and heave about? I see no sign of a boat coming off."

"Yes, if you please," was the answer. "By-the-bye, I wonder if young
Percival has ever been inside there; if he has, pewhaps he could take us
in."

"I scarcely expect he has ever seen the inside of the harbour, sir,"
said Mr Annesley; "still, we can ask him. Shall I pass the word for
him?"

"Yes, do," said the skipper. "I should like to get in to-night, if
possible."

"Pass the word for--oh! here he is," said the first luff, as Percival
strolled aft from the forecastle, whence he had been taking a good look
at the harbour. "Mr Percival, Captain Hood wishes to know if you have
ever been into Toulon?"

"No, sir, I never have," replied Percival, addressing himself to the
skipper direct; "but I have just been having a look at the place, and I
feel sure I could take the ship in. Mr Rawlings, on the first day that
he was taken ill, brought out his chart, and showed me the way in, with
all the marks and bearings of the fairway, and I have been able to make
out every one of them quite distinctly. It is a fine, clear night, with
little wind and no sea, so that if we _did_ happen to touch anywhere we
should do no harm, but I think I could safely promise to take her in
without scouring her copper."

"Vewy well, then, Mr Percival, I'll wisk it. Take charge, sir, and do
the best you can for us," said the skipper.

The main-topsail was filled, and as soon as the ship had way enough on
her, we hove about, and bore away for the harbour, with a hand in the
fore-chains on each side, taking frequent casts of the lead, and
Percival on the poop, conning the ship. As we drew in towards the
harbour, sail was shortened, and we crept in under topsails and jib
only.

At length we safely entered the inner harbour, Percival's skill having
proved fully equal to the occasion, and there, as had been expected, we
found a numb