CHAPTER 3: Mariners Of The Deep.
"I must go! I must go!" shouted Colin, bursting into the house, mad with excitement and impetuosity.
"My uncle, you will let me go! I must see this great and mighty fleet for myself.

They say it is coming up the mighty river's mouth.

Some say it will be wrecked ere it reach the Isle of Orleans! Let me go and see it, I pray, and I will return and tell you all." The whole city was in a ferment.

For long weeks had the English fleet been watched and waited for--for so long, indeed, that provisions were already becoming a little scarce within the town, in spite of the convoy which had arrived earlier in the year.

So many mouths were there to feed that the question of supply was causing anxiety already.