While we were lying on our oars there we were hailed." And he then repeated the warning that had been given.
"Nasty place to get into--eh ?" the captain said thoughtfully.
"Very nasty, sir.

You see, the guns would play right down into the channel; then there are the chains to break down, and perhaps more batteries, and certainly the ships to tackle when we get inside." "Is there width for the frigate to enter ?" the captain asked.
"Just width, I should say, and no more, sir.

We should certainly have to get the yards braced fore and aft, but the ship herself would go through with something to spare, I should say." "What depth of water is there close in shore ?" "Plenty of depth sir, right up to the foot of the cliffs; but of course I can say nothing as to the depth in the channel." "No, of course not," the captain said.

"Well, it's something that we have run these pests to earth at last, but I see it is going to be no easy matter to get at them." The captain now signaled to the captain of the schooner to come on board, and when he did so the two officers retired to the cabin together and had a long consultation.

The young officer on coming on deck got into his boat, and taking Lieutenant Pearson with him rowed for the cliffs, a few hundred yards to the west of the inlet.