he
prison where there was a blank wall, up which a gutter pipe ran to the
rambling, gabled roof, where, if I could only reach it, I should hardly
be looked for.

The clamber was a perilous one, especially as the heavy rain rendered
the iron pipe more than usually slippery. But I was sailor enough to
understand how to grip with hands and feet, and succeeded with no great
difficulty in reaching the top and hiding myself away in a deep angle of
the roof--not safe, indeed, but with time at least to breathe and
consider what next.

Nor was I too soon; for I had not lain there two minutes before I heard
a sudden shout and rush of feet in the yard below, and knew that my
escape had been discovered and that a price was upon my head.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

THE WOOD NEAR MORLAIX.

As I expected, the hiding-place I had chosen was about the safest I
could have had. For my jailers, taking note of the trampled dust-heap
in the corner, and finding, moreover, my half-written letter (which I
had taken the precaution to drop on the far side of the wall before I
doubled on my steps), had no doubt that I had fled either towards the
open country or to the harbour, where possibly I might succeed in
smuggling myself on board a ship.

So, instead of increasing the sentries round the house, they actually
reduced them in order to reinforce the pursuing party. My policy was to
get away while the coast was comparatively unprotected, and trust to
night and my good angel to get clear of the place. So, when the
excitement had subsided a little, and the remaining soldiers on guard
were summoned to assist at the hanging of the second batch of my
shipmates, I stole from my hiding-place and, covered by the sea-mist
which came with the sundown, slid down the pipe and crossed the wall,
and set off as briskly as I could in an easterly direction through the
outskirts of the town.

The streets were moderately crowded with wayfarers and loungers, and as
I sauntered along with a big French cigar in my mouth, which had cost me
two of my few remaining sous, no one paid me any particular heed. A few
of the soldiers eyed me suspiciously as a doubtful character, but they
were too accustomed to queer sea-dogs prowling about the place to
consider me worth the trouble of a challenge.

At last I came to one of the posting taverns of the town where the coach
for Paris was beginning to take up passengers in the presence of the
usual curious crowd of idler