"The Sea Fit" by Algernon Blackwood

"The Gunners" - this is a colloquial name for the Royal Artillery, although I suppose other uses may be possible. But as Blackwood is British, and this story is set in England (see below), this is the most likely meaning here.

tow-colored: very light blonde

ouragan: French word for hurricane

Corfe Castle: a village in Dorset, on the south coast of England. Well, a few miles inland, but very close to the coast.

Glaucus: a Greek sea-god, originally a mortal, he became immortal by eating a certain magical herb

Proteus: another Greek sea god

Pontus: also a Greek sea god. They had a lot of sea gods... But the Athenians at least were a big sea power, so it makes sense.

From Corfe Castle to Studland is 5 miles, and from Studland to Poole Harbour is another 3.5 miles. So Norden had come quite a distance! Although much of it by bicycle. Depending on how long the ferry takes, it was probably an hour or so of travel, possibly more.

The picture used is an illustration by W. Graham Robertson for the story as published in Pan's Garden (1912)

To follow along: https://algernonblackwood.org/Z-files/Sea_Fit.pdf

Blackwood does love his stories about pagan gods and sacrifice, doesn't he?