who had ruined his sleep for the summer.

"Happily they are not under your command, and they have no man to

compare with you;" he spoke rather nervously; while Nelson smiled,

for he loved the praise which he had so well earned; "and if it were

possible for you to talk nonsense, I should say that you had done it

now. But two things surely you have overlooked. In the first place, the

French can have no idea of the special opportunities this place affords.

And again, if they had, they could do nothing, without a pilot well

acquainted with the spot. Though the landing is so easy, there are

shoals outside, very intricate and dangerous, and known to none except

the natives of the place, who are jealous to the last degree about their

knowledge."

"That is true enough; and even I should want a pilot here, though I

know every spit of sand eastward. But away fly both your difficulties if

there should happen to be a local traitor."

"A traitor at Springhaven! Such a thing is quite impossible. You would

laugh at yourself, if you only knew the character of our people. There

never has been, and there never will be, a Springhaven man capable of

treachery."

"That is good news, ay, and strange news too," the visitor answered,

with his left hand on his sword, for he was now in full though rather

shabby uniform. "There are not many traitors in England, I believe; but

they are as likely to be found in one place as another, according to my

experience. Well, well, I am very glad you have no such scoundrels here.

I won't say a single word against your people, who are as fine a lot

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