bden vessel by her build."

"Oh," said he, "hand me the glass. The boy's right; and a good glass,
too. Come, I see you do know something--and good knowledge, too, for a
pilot. It often saves us a deal of trouble when we know a vessel by her
build; them foreigners sail too close to take pilots. Can you stand
cold? Have you got a P-jacket?"

"Yes, father bought me one."

"Well, you'll want it this winter, for the wild geese tell us that it
will be a sharp one. Steady, starboard!"

"Starboard it is."

"D'ye know the compass?"

"No."

"Well, stop till we get down to Deal. Now, stand by me, and keep your
eyes wide open; for, d'ye see, you've plenty to learn, and you can't
begin too soon. We must square the mainyard, captain, if you please,"
continued he as we entered Blackwall Reach. "What could make the river
so perverse as to take these two bends in Limehouse and Blackwall
Reaches, unless to give pilots trouble, I can't say."

The wind being now contrary from the sharp turn in the river, we were
again tiding it down; that is, hove-to and allowing the tide to drift us
through the Reach; but as soon as we were clear of Blackwall Reach, we
could lay our course down the river. As we passed Gravesend, Bramble
asked me whether I was ever so low down.

"Yes," replied I, "I have been down as far as Sea Reach;" which I had
been when I was upset in the wherry, and I told him the story.

"Well, Tom, that's called the river now; but do you know that, many
years ago, where we now are used to be considered as the mouth of the
river, and that fort there" (pointing to Tilbury Fort) "was built to
defend it? for they say the French fleet used to come and anchor down
below."

"Yes," replied I; "and they say, in the History of England, that the
Danes used to come up much higher, even up to Greenwich; but that's a
very long while ago."

"Well, you beat me, Tom! I never heard that; and I think, if ever they
did do so, they won't do it again in a hurry. What water have you got,
my man? Port there!"

"Port it is."

"Steady--so."

"Shall we get down to the Nore to-night, pilot?" said the captain.

"Why, sir, I'm in hopes we shall; we have still nearly three hours'
daylight; and now that we are clear of the Hope, we shall lay fairly
down Sea Reach; and if the wind will only freshen a little (and it looks
very like it), we shall be able to stem the _first_ of the flood, at all
events."

I ought to observe that Br