Impassiveasthelongloftslook，lettheelectricbatterysenddowntheword，andtheshuttersanddoorsshallflyopen，andsuchafleetofarmedships，understeamandundersail，shallburstforthaswillchargetheoldMedway-wherethemerryStuartlettheDutchcome，whilehisnotsomerrysailorsstarvedinthestreets-withsomethingworthlookingattocarrytothesea。
ThusIidleroundtotheMedwayagain，whereitisnowfloodtide；
andIfindtheriverevincingastrongsolicitudetoforceawayintothedrydockwhereAchillesiswaitedonbythetwelvehundredbangers，withintenttobearthewholeawaybeforetheyareready。
Tothelast，theYardputsaquietfaceuponit；forImakemywaytothegatesthroughalittlequietgroveoftrees，shadingthequaintestofDutchlanding-places，wheretheleaf-speckledshadowofashipwrightjustpassingawayatthefurtherendmightbetheshadowofRussianPeterhimself。So，thedoorsofthegreatpatentsafeatlastcloseuponme，andItakeboatagain:somehow，thinkingastheoarsdip，ofbraggartPistolandhisbrood，andofthequietmonstersoftheYard，withtheir’Wedon’tparticularlywanttodoit；butifitmustbedone-！’Scrunch。
’Itisneitheraboldnoradiversifiedcountry，’saidItomyself，’thiscountrywhichisthree-quartersFlemish，andaquarterFrench；yetithasitsattractionstoo。Thoughgreatlinesofrailwaytraverseit，thetrainsleaveitbehind，andgopuffingofftoParisandtheSouth，toBelgiumandGermany，totheNorthernSea-CoastofFrance，andtoEngland，andmerelysmokeitalittleinpassing。ThenIdon’tknowit，andthatisagoodreasonforbeinghere；andIcan’tpronouncehalfthelongqueernamesIseeinscribedovertheshops，andthatisanothergoodreasonforbeinghere，sinceIsurelyoughttolearnhow。’Inshort，Iwas’here，’