without undue curiosity. He threw back his shoulders and stretched
his legs after the manner of one cramped by standing too long in one
attitude.

A hundred yards farther up the river, where the dyke was wider, a
grey-haired man was walking slowly toward the quay. In front of him
a boy of ten years was endeavouring to drag a young girl toward the
jetty at a quicker pace than she desired. She was laughing at his
impetuosity and looking back toward the man who followed them with
the abstraction and indifference of a student.

Colville took in the whole picture in one quick comprehensive
glance. But he turned again as the singer on board "The Last Hope"
began another verse. The words were clearly audible to such as knew
the language, and Colville noted that the girl turned with a sudden
gravity to listen to them.

"Un tel qu'on vantait
Par hasard etait
D'origine assez mince;
Par hasard il plut,
Par hasard il fut
Baron, ministre, et prince."

Captain Clubbe's harsh voice broke into the song with the order to
let go the anchor. As the ship swung to the tide the steersman, who
wore neither coat nor waistcoat, could be seen idly handling the
wheel still, though his duties were necessarily at an end. He was a
young man, and a gay salutation of his unemployed hand toward the
assembled people--as if he were sure that they were all friends--