“Boat, gentlemen? It will do you a deal of good, Mr. Fred; and you too, Mr. Wood,” said old Dan, coming across the beach to where we were lying.

“I can’t go to-day,” answered Wood. “I have a confounded engagement. Shall you go, Astley?”

“Yes, I think so,” I said, looking at the sea, which, just stirred by a slight breeze, rippled and danced in the sunlight.

“All right, then. I shall have to bolt in a minute. What an awful row there is this morning.”