truth, if we were to ask them
questions."

"Trust me for that," answered Jack. "One might suppose, from the way
they treat us, that they take us for desperate fellows, who would make
nothing of knocking them down right and left, if it were not for their
muskets and bayonets."

"All right," responded Bill; "we'll keep our wits awake, and maybe we
shall find an opportunity of getting away."

"I am ready for anything you propose," said Jack. "We might have found
it more easy to make our escape if Madame Turgot had brought us back our
French toggery; but still, for my part, I feel more comfortable-like in
my own clothes."

"So do I," said Bill. "Somehow I fancy that I am more up to work
dressed as an English sailor than I should be as a French boy. I only
hope our friends will not get into any scrape for having concealed us.
They are wonderfully kind people, and I shall always be ready to do a
good turn to a Frenchman for their sakes."

"So shall I after I've thrashed him," said Jack. "If the French will go
to war with us, they must take the consequences."

The soldiers did not interfere with the lads, but allowed them to talk
on to each other as much as they liked. The road they followed led them
to the eastward, as far as they could judge, at no great distance from
the shore.

After marching about a couple of miles, they reached a small town, or
village rather, the houses being scattered along the shores of another
bay much larger than the one they had left. A river of some size ran
into the bay, and on a point of land near the mouth, on a height, stood
an old tower, which had been built, apparently, for the purpose of
guarding the entrance.

It was in a somewhat dilapidated condition, and seemed now very unfit
for its original object, for a few round shot would have speedily
knocked it to pieces. It might, however, afford shelter to a small body
of infantry, who could fire from the loopholes in its walls down on any
boats, attempting to ascend the river.

"I wonder if they are going to shut us up there!" said Jack, as the
sergeant led the party in the direction of the tower.

"No doubt about it," replied Bill; "but it doesn't seem to be a very
terrible place; and, by the look of the walls, I have a notion that I
could climb to the top, or make my way down them, without the slightest
difficulty."

They had time to make their observations before they reached the
entrance gate.

A small guard of sol