But, leaving these points of controversy to a more fit season, let us see what our basket of provision contains; for in truth, friend Latimer, I am one of those whom neither fear nor anxiety deprives of their ordinary appetite.' We found the means of good cheer accordingly, which Mr.Geddes seemed to enjoy as much as if it had been eaten in a situation of perfect safety; nay, his conversation appeared to be rather more gay than on ordinary occasions.

After eating our supper, we left the hut together, and walked for a few minutes on the banks of the sea.

It was high water, and the ebb had not yet commenced.

The moon shone broad and bright upon the placid face of the Solway Firth, and showed a slight ripple upon the stakes, the tops of which were just visible above the waves, and on the dark-coloured buoys which marked the upper edge of the enclosure of nets.

At a much greater distance--for the estuary is here very wide--the line of the English coast was seen on the verge of the water, resembling one of those fog-banks on which mariners are said to gaze, uncertain whether it be land or atmospherical delusion.
'We shall be undisturbed for some hours,' said Mr.Geddes; 'they will not come down upon us: till the state of the tide permits them to destroy the tide-nets.