ands on a narrow
neck of land a little to the north of the town, and is of a quadrangular
form, with three Moorish-looking towers and a square one of modern style
at the four corners. It is surrounded by a fosse and low ramparts, of a
modern style of fortification. The royal family of Denmark came
occasionally to the castle to enjoy sea-bathing for a few days. The
Sound is here very narrow, the shore of Sweden being not more than three
or foul miles off. It was crowded with shipping, the place serving as a
roadstead for Copenhagen, which is about twenty miles distant. In the
forenoon they came off Copenhagen, but did not touch there. The nearest
point to them was the Trekroner, or Three-crown Battery, as an
artificially-formed island directly in front of the city is called.
This is the point which, in the attack under Nelson, gave the British so
much trouble, and cost so many lives. Beyond it, within a mole, were
seen the masts of some shipping, and behind them arose towers and spires
and public edifices, and trees, and houses of various shapes, springing,
as it seemed, out of the water.

Cousin Giles gave the lads a description of the battle of Copenhagen,
which was fought on the 2nd of April 1801. The destruction of the
Danish fleet was a sad necessity. The attack was made on our old allies
and natural friends, to prevent their fleet from falling into the power
of Napoleon, who would have employed it against us. The Danes have not
yet forgotten that untoward event.

For most of the day they steamed on with the shores both of Sweden and
Denmark in sight. The usual morning work of the ship having been got
through, Cousin Giles asked the captain if he ever had service on board.

"When we have a clergyman," was the answer.

"How often is that?"

"Once I took one over; but, to be sure, he was sick, and had to cut it
short."

"Then, how often are you in port on a Sunday?"

"Not often in England, and sometimes in foreign parts we are so pressed
for time that we are obliged to be discharging or taking in cargo on a
Sunday."

"I am sorry to hear that. Sailing-vessels used seldom to be so pressed.
But why do not you hold service for your people at sea, at all events?"
said Cousin Giles.

"I!--how should such an one as I hold service?" replied the master
simply. "The men are accustomed to hear me swear at them and abuse
them. They would laugh if I proposed to pray with them."

"Leave off swearing, and