with war as good as proclaimed again."

"Nothing but the sea, indeed? The sweep of the land, and the shelter

of the bay, the shoaling of the shore without a rock to break it, the

headland that shuts out both wind and waves; and outside the headland,

off Pebbleridge, deep water for a fleet of line-of-battle ships to

anchor and command the land approaches--moreover, a stream of the purest

water from deep and never-failing springs--Darling, the place of all

places in England for the French to land is opposite to your front

door."

"I am truly obliged to you for predicting, and to them for doing it, if

ever they attempt such impudence. If they find out that you are away,

they can also find out that I am here, as commander of the sea defences,

from Dungeness to Selsey-Bill."

"That will make it all the more delightful to land at your front door,

my friend; and all the easier to do it. My own plan is to strike with

all force at the head-quarters of the enemy, because the most likely to

be unprepared. About a year ago, when I was down here, a little before

my dear father's death, without your commission I took command of your

fishing-craft coming home for their Sunday, and showed them how to

take the beach, partly to confirm my own suspicions. There is no other

landing on all the south coast, this side of Hayling Island, fit to be

compared with it for the use of flat-bottomed craft, such as most of

Boney's are. And remember the set of the tide, which makes the fortunes

of your fishermen. To be sure, he knows nothing of that himself; but he

has sharp rogues about him. If they once made good their landing here,

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