"It beats me," observed Billy, edging away as far as possible from the guard stationed to keep them out of mischief, "how those Britishers ever got by this place."
"The bigger question," asserted Henri, "is, if they got by, how in the world did they ever get back?"
"That's what Roque is evidently trying to find out," intimated Billy.
The boys, while puzzling over the problem of "get by and get back," were looking at the huge fortress so tremendously fortified and noting everywhere an uninterrupted view of the sea.
They also surmised that an alert garrison was ever carefully watching the waters, day after day, night after night, hour after hour, in order not to be surprised by the powerful enemy.
"I guess the fog helped some," was the conclusion finally advanced by Billy.
"And Ardelle somewhere behind the curtain," suggested Henri.
"Oh, go 'way, man; Roque has given you the Ardelle fever."
Billy just then caught sight of Roque bearing down upon them under full stride.