I was wondering who first found out that you could get fire from the sun." "Some chap as had a spy-glass," said the old fellow, "and unscrewed the bottom same as I do when I wants a light.

Might ha' fired one o' these here with a glass if you put a bit o' tinder in the touch-hole." "Yes," said Vince, "if the French had come." "Tchah!" ejaculated the man contemptuously: "all fools who put the guns about the island! No Frenchies couldn't ha' come and landed here.
Wants some one as knows every rock to sail a small boat, let alone a ship o' war.

All gone to pieces on the rocks if they'd tried." "Same as the old Spaniards did with the Armada," said Vince.
"Spannles! Did they come ?" "To be sure they did, and got wrecked and beaten and sunk, and all sorts." "Sarve 'em right for being such fools as to come without a man aboard as knowed the rocks and currents and tides.

Dessay I could ha' showed 'em; on'y there's nowhere for 'em to harbour." "You'd better not try, if ever they want to come again," cried Vince, with animation.

"Father says you are a Spaniard." "Me ?" cried the man, starting.