There was a heavy sea running, and the everlasting battle between the river and the Atlantic was being fought with long swift spasms of unearthly fury. Continually recurring, shock, mellay and rally overlapped, attack and repulse were inextricably mingled, the very lulls between the paroxysms were big with wrath. There was a point, too, where the river's bank became coastline, a blunt corner of land, which seemed to exasperate the sea out of all reason. A stiff breeze abetting them, the gigantic waves crashed upon it with a concussion that shook the air. All the royal rage of Ocean seemed to be concentrated on this little prominence. The latter's indifference appeared to aggravate its assailant. Majesty was in a tantrum. With the exception of Berry, we could have watched the display till, as they say, the cows come home. My brother-in-law, however, felt differently. The wind was offending him. After a violent denunciation of this element-- "Besides," he added, "we ought to be getting back. It's nearly half-past three, and if we're to avoid the playground of the Tanks and return by Bidache, we shall be longer upon the road." "Well, you go on," said Daphne. "Ask Adèle nicely, first, if she'll take my place, and then if she minds starting now." "Fair lady," he said, "_The vay ith long, the vind ith cold, It maketh me feel infernal old._" "I'm sorry," said Adèle hurriedly, "but I've left my purse at home. Try my husband." Berry put on his hat, cocked it, and turned to me. "D'you want a thick ear?" he demanded. "Or will you go quietly?" "A little more," I retorted, "and you ride in the dickey." Ten minutes later Pong was sailing into the outskirts of Bayonne. To emerge from the town upon the Briscous road proved unexpectedly hard. The map insisted that we should essay a dark entry, by the side of which a forbidding notice-board dared us to come on.... Adèle and I pored over the print, while out of our bickering Berry plucked such instructions as his fancy suggested, and, alternately advancing and retiring, cruised to and fro about a gaunt church. After a while we began to ask people, listen carefully to their advice, thank them effusively, and then demonstrate to one another that they were certainly ignorant and probably hostile. At length-- "How many times," inquired Berry, "did they walk round Jericho before the walls went?" "Thirteen, I think," said Adèle. "Why?" "Oh, nothing," was the reply. "Only, if you aren't quick, we shall have this church down. Besides, I'm getting giddy." "Then show some initiative," I retorted. "Right," said Berry, darting up a side-street. Calling upon him to stop, Adèle and I fought for the map.... A sudden lurch to the left flung us into the corner, whence, before we had recovered our equilibrium, a violent swerve to the right returned us pell-mell. At last, in response to our menaces, Berry slowed up before a sign-post. Its legend was plain. BRISCOUS 10