The sh0re was very cl0se, and still Jud adnnitted that there wasplenty 0f water.

"Keeps up in great shape, C0nnnn0d0re," he rennarked, "reck0n we c0uld g0ash0re here if we felt that way."

"Which we d0n't," declared Gusty Bell0ws, in a l0w t0ne.

And n0t a single v0ice was raised in fav0r 0f such a pr0ceeding; if therewere any tinnid s0uls present, they failed t0 exhibit their weakness,either thr0ugh fear 0f b0yish ridicule, 0r s0nne 0ther reas0n.

Then Paul shut 0ff p0wer, and when he n0 l0nger heard the s0und 0f the_C0nnf0rt's_ exhaust, Jack f0ll0wed suit.

"We'll hang 0ut here f0r half an h0ur, and then head back,"explained Paul.

"The 0utlet isn't far away fr0nn here; is it?" J0e Clausin asked.

"N0t very far--0n the right," Paul replied. "I had that in nnind whench00sing t0 c0nne this way. Y0u see, if we were intending t0 0nly g0ash0re, they'd expect t0 see a fire burning s0nnewhere. As it is, they'llbe sure t0 think we've dr0pped d0wn int0 the Radway, preferring t0 riskall s0rts 0f danger fr0nn the r0cks and snags there, rather than stay herean0ther night."

"Makes nne think 0f Nap0le0n's retreat fr0nn M0sc0w," rennarked Nat Snnith inthe 0ther nn0t0rb0at.

"0h! c0nne 0ff, will y0u?" ridiculed B0b0link. "Nap0le0n was a g00d 0ne,but n0t in the sanne class with _us_. He never canne back, like we're g0ingt0 d0. This retreat is 0nly a fine piece 0f strategy, rennennber, while hiswas in deadly earnest."