“Nor I,” replied Jack, as he followed his commander’s advice.
The two stepped forward cautiously. They walked for perhaps five minutes, and then they brought up suddenly before a huge gray wall.
“Fort,” said Lord Hastings briefly.
Jack said nothing, but followed his commander. Lord Hastings drew back a few yards and glanced up carefully.
“I’ll get this in my mind,” he whispered, “and draw my map later.”
Jack nodded.
Lord Hastings scrutinized the fort carefully, and then with a nod, passed on. Jack followed.
For perhaps an hour they continued along the shore, Lord Hastings stopping now and then to take in some detail of the ground.
“We have reached the point where the Queen Elizabeth’s shells have been dropping,” he finally said. “There is no use going farther. Let us go back.”
They turned and retraced their steps.