alf naked.

Faith, the eldest sister, had meant to let young Dolly take the course
of her own stubbornness; but no sooner did she see her go forth alone
than she threw on cloak and hat, and followed. The day was unsuited for
classic apparel, as English days are apt to be, and a lady of fashion
would have looked more foolish, and even more indecent, than usual. A
brisk and rather crisp east wind had arisen, which had no respect for
persons, and even Faith and Dolly in their high-necked country dresses
had to handle their tackle warily.

Dolly had a good start, and growing much excited with the petulance of
the wind and with her own audacity, crossed the mouth of the brook at a
very fine pace, with the easterly gusts to second her. She could see
the little mark-boat well out in the offing, with a red flag flaring
merrily, defying all the efforts of the gunners on the hill to plunge it
into the bright dance of the waves. And now and then she heard what she
knew to be the rush of a round shot far above her head, and following
the sound saw a little silver fountain leap up into the sunshine and
skim before the breeze; then glancing up the hill she saw the gray puff
drifting, and presently felt the dull rumble of the air. At the root
of the smoke-puffs, once or twice, she descried a stocky figure moving
leisurely, and in spite of the distance and huddle of vapour could
declare that it was Captain Stubbard. Then a dense mass of smoke was
brought down by an eddy of wind, and set her coughing.

"Come away, come away this very moment, Dolly," cried Faith, who had
hurried up and seized her hand; "you are past the danger-post, and I met
a man back there who says they are going to fire shells, and they have
got two short guns on purpose. He says it will be very dangerous till
they get the range, and he begged me most earnestly not to come on here.
If I were anybody else, he said, he would lay hands on me and hold me
back."

"Some old fisherman, no doubt. What do they know about gun practice? I
can see Captain Stubbard up there; he would rather shoot himself than
me, he said yesterday."

While Dolly was repeating this assurance, the following words were being
exchanged upon the smoky parapet: "If you please, sir, I can see two
women on the beach, half-way between the posts a'most." "Can't help
it--wouldn't stop for all the petticoats in the kingdom. If they choose
to go there, they must take their chance. A bit more up, and to y