schooner on the
quiet during the night and taking her from the stocks direct to sea.

Johnson had already made up his mind that the best site for the stocks
would be on the sandy beach immediately in front of the capstan-house;
and there was a great deal to be said in favour of this, a carpenter's
shop being already in existence close to the spot, and all the cordage
and tackle of every description being stored in the capstan-house. But
this did not at all chime in with Lance's plans, so he merely remarked
that it would do well enough if no better place could be found, but that
the flatness of the ground and the consequent shoal water at that spot
would prove serious difficulties in the way of launching; and that it
would be advisable before deciding to give the entire shore of the bay a
very careful examination.

Some hours were accordingly spent in this work; and a site was at last
fixed upon in a locality thoroughly favourable to Lance's secret wishes.
This was a small indentation in the harbour-face of the breakwater rock
which marked the entrance to the bay.

This indentation was about an acre and a half in extent, with a smooth
rocky floor sloping down into the water at an inclination of just the
right gradient for the launching-ways. It is true it was a long way
away from the settlement; but Lance's arguments in favour of adopting it
were so convincing that Johnson was fain to give way, which, he at last
did with a very good grace.

This matter settled, Lance intimated that he should like to devote a
little more time to the examination of the rock; as it appeared to him
that here was the proper place to construct the battery which was to
defend the harbour. They accordingly climbed with great difficulty to
the highest point of the rock, which was immediately behind or to
seaward of the future shipyard, and which had an elevation of nearly a
hundred feet above the sea-level.

The top of the rock was very irregular in shape; but Lance soon saw that
a few charges of powder judiciously placed would give them a nearly
circular platform of about sixty feet diameter, which would be ample
space for such a battery as he proposed to construct. His first idea
had been to evade the construction of this battery altogether if
possible; but a little reflection had shown him that a time might come
when its existence would be of the utmost importance to themselves, and
he therefore decided to go on with the work. He ac