the summer, and many other questions which the gallant dragoon could
not answer, but which he nevertheless liked to be asked. William
Tremlett, who had not enjoyed a sound night's rest since the First
Consul's menace had become known, pricked up his ears at sound of
this subject, and inquired if anybody had seen the terrible
flat-bottomed boats that the enemy were to cross in.

'My brother Robert saw several of them paddling about the shore the
last time he passed the Straits of Dover,' said the trumpet-major;
and he further startled the company by informing them that there
were supposed to be more than fifteen hundred of these boats, and
that they would carry a hundred men apiece. So that a descent of
one hundred and fifty thousand men might be expected any day as soon
as Boney had brought his plans to bear.

'Lord ha' mercy upon us!' said William Tremlett.

'The night-time is when they will try it, if they try it at all,'
said old Tullidge, in the tone of one whose watch at the beacon
must, in the nature of things, have given him comprehensive views of
the situation. 'It is my belief that the point they will choose for
making the shore is just over there,' and he nodded with
indifference towards a section of the coast at a hideous nearness to
the house in which they were assembled, whereupon Fencible Tremlett,
and Cripplestraw of the Locals, tried to show no signs of
trepidation.

'When d'ye think 'twill be?' said Volunteer Comfort, the blacksmith.

'I can't answer to a day,' said the corporal, 'but it will certainly