'And a half-nine!' sang the leadsman, cursing the long-stocked port-anchor under his breath, for he had to cast to one side of it and it stuck out like a cat's whiskers.
We were between two rocky beaches, split and weathered by all the gales of the Atlantic, black boulders embroidered with golden weed, and beryl bays where the rollers had lost their way and were running in rings. Behind them the green, tiny-fielded land, dotted with white cottages, climbed up to the barren purple hills.
'Ah! The Arrogant's here anyhow. See her puff!'
THE STRONGEST FLEET IN THE WORLD.
A monstrous plume of black, heavy smoke went up to the sky. We whipped round a buoy and came on the Fleet. There were eight battleships alike as peas to the outsider; and four big cruisers. They were not cruising or manœuvring just then; but practising their various arts and crafts.
The Marines fell in on the poop, and with bugles and all proper observances we paid our compliments as we ran past the sterns of the cruisers, waiting the Admiral's word to moor.
'He's given us a billet of our own. Under his wing too.' An officer shot down on to the foc'sle, while the yeoman of signals, whose nose is that of a hawk, kept an unshut eye on the Flag.
'Isn't there a four-foot patch somewhere about here?' said a calm and disinterested voice. The Navigator having brought her in did not need to
