But it's Peace! Peace!" And away he went once more with his great tankard hopping round his bonfire.
Well, we stayed some time with the Major, and then away we went down to the beach, Jim and I, talking about this great news, and all that would come of it.

He knew a little, and I knew less, but we pieced it all together and talked about how the prices would come down, how our brave fellows would return home, how the ships could go where they would in peace, and how we could pull all the coast beacons down, for there was no enemy now to fear.

So we chatted as we walked along the clean, hard sand, and looked out at the old North Sea.

How little did Jim know at that moment, as he strode along by my side so full of health and of spirits, that he had reached the extreme summit of his life, and that from that hour all would, in truth, be upon the downward slope! There was a little haze out to sea; for it had been very misty in the early morning, though the sun had thinned it.

As we looked seawards we suddenly saw the sail of a small boat break out through the fog, and come bobbing along towards the land.