CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
A STEAM TRIAL, AND A GUN-BURST.
On their way up the harbour, the Captain pointed out the long line of old hulks moored on either side of the stream that had once, when in their prime, been esteemed the pride of the Navy.
With towering masts and gallant rig they had flown the flag that has borne the battle and the breeze for many a long year.
But, within the last decade, their glory has departed, alas, like the glories of "Rotten Row," as this anchorage of broken-down ships is called; many of the old historic vessels having been sold out of the service and their places know them no more! "Ah, these are something like `Roman remains'!" exclaimed Captain Dresser, when their wherry ultimately glided up to the ruins of Porchester Castle, the base of whose swelling walls was laved by the rippling tide.

"That `villa' at Brading was a regular take-in, and I shall always regret that half-crown in hard cash, out of which I was swindled!" "Sure, I don't think you'll ever forget that day," cried Mrs Gilmour, laughing as she explained the matter more lucidly to her brother and sister-in-law.

"Just as Queen Mary said that Calais would be found engraved on her heart after she was dead, the Roman villa at Brading will be found graven on yours, Captain, sure!" "I don't mind," said he resignedly, "I like something for my money; and, here, there is something to see and nothing to pay for it either!" The boatmen rowed the boat close inshore in order to allow them to inspect the place nearer, as they did not have sufficient time to land and examine it properly.

Mrs Gilmour, while they laid off making thus a cursory inspection of the ruins, became the castle's historian-- telling how the Romans originally built the fortress on their invasion of England over eighteen hundred years ago, styling it "Portus Magnus," or "the great port," it being situated on a tongue of land commanding the approaches to their encampments in the interior of the country--the harbour being then more open to the sea than it now is.
"Aye," corroborated the Captain.

"It has silted up considerably, even in my time, in spite of continual dredging." "The Saxons afterwards called the place Portceaster, whence its present name `Porchester,'" continued the narrator; "and, subsequently, the stronghold has played an important part in history, from the days of Canute up to the reign of Queen Elizabeth." "That's something at any rate!" interposed the Captain.