Sometimes de Lapp would go out in the boat alone, and I have seen him for a whole summer day rowing slowly along and stopping every half-dozen strokes to throw over a stone at the end of a string.

I could not think what he was doing until he told me of his own freewill.
"I am fond of studying all that has to do with the military," said he, "and I never lose a chance.

I was wondering if it would be a difficult matter for the commander of an army corps to throw his men ashore here." "If the wind were not from the east," said I.
"Ah! quite so, if the wind were not from the east.

Have you taken soundings here ?" "No." "Your line of battleships would have to lie outside; but there is water enough for a forty-gun frigate right up within musket range.

Cram your boats with tirailleurs, deploy them behind these sandhills, then back with the launches for more, and a stream of grape over their heads from the frigates.