finger. Never shall
I forget that moment. Before me, scarce as it seemed a mile distant,
lay a thousand boats at anchor, beneath the shadow of tall sandhills,
decorated with gay and gaudy pennons, crowded with figures whose bright
colors and glittering arms shone gorgeously in the setting sunlight. The
bright waves reflected the myriad tints, while they seemed to plash in
unison with the rich swell of martial music that stole along the water
with every freshening breeze. The shore was covered with tents, some of
them surmounted with large banners that floated out gayly to the breeze;
and far as the eye could reach were hosts of armed men dotted over
the wide plain beside the sea. Vast columns of infantry were there,--
cavalry and artillery, too,--their bright arms glittering, and their
gay plumes waving, but all still and motionless, as if spellbound. As I
looked, I could see horsemen gallop from the dense squares, and riding
hurriedly to and fro. Suddenly a blue rocket shot into the calm sky, and
broke in a million glittering fragments over the camp; the deep roar of
a cannon boomed out; and then the music of a thousand bands swelled high
and full, and in an instant the whole plain was in motion, and the turf
trembled beneath the tramp of marching men. Regiment followed regiment,
squadron poured after squadron, as they descended the paths towards the
beach; while a long, dark line wound through the glittering mass, and
marked the train of the artillery, as with caissons and ammunition
wagons they moved silently over the grassy surface.

All that I had ever conceived of warlike preparation was as nothing to
the gorgeous spectacle before me. The stillness of the evening air, made
tremulous with the clang of trumpets and the hoarse roar of drums;
the mirror-like sea, colored with the reflection of bright banners and
waving pennants; and then the simultaneous step of the mighty army,--so
filled up every sense that I feared lest all might prove the mere
pageant of a dream, and vanish as it came.

"What a glorious sight!" cried I, at length, half wild with enthusiasm.
"Where are we?"

"Where are we?" repeated the skipper, smiling. "Look out, and you 'll
soon guess that. Are those very like the uniforms of King George? When
did you see steel breastplates and helmets before? This is France, my
lad!"

"France! France!" said I, stupefied with the mere thought.

"Yes, to be sure. That 's the Army of England, as they call it,