"Well, then, I am afraid your experience will not be of service."
"But, sir, if I might make so bold, sir——" continued the junior lieutenant, hesitatingly.
"Heave ahead! Out with it!" said the commodore.
"In calm weather, sir, there is no surf on that point, and it would be quite possible, I should think, to take the Centaur in close to the shore, and then with a hawser and a traveller from the main-topmast head we might make shift to land some guns."
"Capital!" exclaimed the commodore. "What do you think of it, Maxwell?"
"It is for you to say, sir," replied the cautious captain. "The weather is fine enough to-day, and we might try it. It will be risking His Majesty's ship, though, sir," he remarked, gravely.
"Fetch me a glass," said Sir Samuel, turning to the midshipman of the watch. When it was brought to him he took a long look at the base of the cliff, observing a little stretch of sandy beach, upon which the breakers usually tumbled with tremendous fury. This morning, fortunately, it seemed calm.
"I will answer, sir, that there is deep water under the cliff," ventured Maurice at this moment.
"Will you answer for the flag-ship, too, sir?" asked the commodore, keenly.
"No, sir, I——"