“That ship there.”
And Daniel pointed out to him “The Conquest” as she lay not six hundred yards off in the river, showing her lights.
“That is rather far,” grumbled the man; “the tide is low; and the current is very strong.”
“I’ll give you a couple of francs for your trouble.”
The man clapped his hands with delight, and said,—
“Ah! if that’s the way, all right. Come along, Mr. Officer, a little farther down. There, that’s my boat. Get in, now steady!”
Daniel followed his directions; but he was so much struck by the man’s awkwardness in getting the boat off, that he could not help saying to him,—
“Ah, my boy, you are not a boatman, after all!”
“I beg pardon, sir; I used to be one before I came to this country.”
“What is your country?”