; "why should you not see as well as we? I
have a sister Margery at home who would be as wild to go as you can
be. She is as good as a boy any day. Wrap yourself well up in a
great cloak, so that you may keep warm, and so that nobody can
guess we have a lady on board, and we will take care of you, never
fear!"

Corinne clapped her hands gaily; although growing to maidenhood,
she had the heart of a child, and was full of delight at the
thought of anything that promised adventure and excitement.

"How good you are! And pray call me not 'Mademoiselle' any more;
call me Corinne--all of you. Let me be an English girl, and your
sister; for, in sooth, I feel more and more English every day of my
life. Sometimes I fear that I shall be hanged for a traitor to the
cause; for I find myself on the side of our English rivals more and
more every day!"

The compact thus sealed was easily carried out. The Abbe and his
sister, Madame Drucour, were keenly interested in the attempt of
the fire ships against the English fleet, and were to watch
proceedings from the steeple of the Recollet Friars. The daylight
lasted long now, and supper was over before the shadows began to
fall; and the excited lads were able to wait till the seniors had
started forth before they made their own escape down to the
harbour.

Corinne wrapped herself in a long black cloak, drawing the hood
over her head, and thus disguising herself and her sex completely
from any prying eyes; but indeed they scarcely met anyone as they
hurried along through the narrow streets to the unfrequented wharf,
where the boys had brought up the boat earlier in the day. Quickly
they were all aboard, and were gliding through the darkening water,
whilst the crowd gathered at quite a different part of the harbour
showed where the launch of the fire ships was going on.

Colin described them as well as he could.

"There are three or four big ones, and Monsieur Delouche is in
command; and then there is a great fire raft, as they call it--a
lot of schooners, shallops, and such like, all chained together--a
formidable-looking thing, for I got one of the sailors to show it
me. I suppose they are all pretty much alike, crammed with
explosives and combustibles; old swivels and guns loaded up to the
muzzle, grenades, and all sorts of things like that, some of them
invented for the occasion. We must give these fellows a wide berth
when once they are set alight; for they will burn mightily,