the result. For
various reasons, however, he preferred going nearer; and therefore he
had refrained from sending the boat ashore that day.

The next day came. There was a fresh breeze and a favorable one. The
waters began to rise. Zac was all ready. Up went the anchor, the
sails were set, and once more the Parson was turned towards the
landing. The breeze now blew steadily, and in course of time Zac
found himself sufficiently near for his purposes, and he began to
act.

First of all, up went the British ensign. Then, the howitzer was
fired. The noise of the report did not fail of the effect which Zac
had anticipated. He saw the people turning out from their houses,
some standing still and looking, others running towards the landing.
Again and again the gun was fired, each report serving to increase
the excitement among the people ashore. The British ensign was fully
visible, and showed them what had taken place.

After this Zac sent Jericho ashore in the boat, along with the chief
Acadian. The others were confined below. Zac saw the Acadian land,
and Jericho return. Then he waited.

But it was not possible for him to wait here, nor was it safe. The
tide would soon fall, leaving, as it retreated, a vast expanse of
bare mud flats. He did not wish to run any risk of the schooner
grounding in a place like this, and therefore allowed her to fall
with the tide, and gradually move back to the bay without. All the
time, however, he kept one eye on the shore. The three hours passed.
He had drifted down again for several miles, and it was no longer
easy to discern objects. But at length he saw a boat sailing from the
shore to the schooner.

As the boat came nearer, he saw that Claude was not on board. Two men
were in her, one of whom was the man whom he had sent away, and the
other was a stranger. This stranger was an elderly man, of venerable
appearance. They came up, and both went on board.

The elderly man was one of the chief men of the settlement, and spoke
English sufficiently well to carry on a conversation. The information
which he gave Zac was not at all to the satisfaction of the latter.
It was to the following effect:--

That M. Motier had been kept in confinement at the house of Comeau;
that early on the previous day M. Cazeneau had departed for
Louisbourg, with the Abbe Michel, and the Countess de Laborde and her
maid; that M. Motier, however, on the previous night, had somehow
effected his escape.

Then