Then Leon spoke to me in the dark, thinking I was Dobson, and cursed the wind, saying it would keep the Danish brig from getting in at dawn as had been intended.

D'you see what that means?
The worst of the lot, the ones the ladies are in terror of, are coming by sea.

Ay, and they can return by sea.

We thought that the attack would be by land, and that even if they succeeded we could hang on to their heels and follow them, till we got them stopped.

But that's impossible! If they come in from the water, they can go out by the water, and there'll never be more heard tell of the ladies or of you or me." Dougal's face was once again sunk in gloom.