ch passed from mouth to mouth of
"Sentinelle, prenez garde a vous;" while from each boat across the
harbor a sing-song note chanted in response the monotonous sounds, "Bon
quart!" as each quarter of an hour stole past.

These precautions against the approach of any strange craft extended, as
I afterwards learned, along the entire coast from Dieppe to Ostend; yet
were they not sufficient to prevent frequent visits from the English
spies, who penetrated into every quarter of the camp, and even had the
hardihood to visit the theatre of the town, and express loudly their
disapprobation of the performance.

"You 'd better come ashore with me, sir," said the lieutenant; "Colonel
Dorsenne will be glad to ask you some questions. What papers have you
got?"

"None, save a few private letters," said I, somewhat confused at the
question.

"No matter," said he, gayly. "I hear from Antoine you wish to join the
service here. That wish is your best recommendation to the colonel; he
'll not trouble you for reasons, I warrant you. Conduct monsieur to
the quartier-general," said the lieutenant to a corporal, who, with his
party of four men, stood awaiting at the landing-place the arrival of
any one from the boats; and in an instant, the men falling to each side
of me, took their way along the pier.

I could mark as we went that more than once their looks were bent on me
with an expression of compassion and pity, which at the time I was at a
loss to explain. I knew not then that the road we were taking was
that which so often led to death; and that it was only on the very day
before, two Englishmen were shot for having ventured on shore without
authority.

The consigne of the corporal passed us through one post after another,
until we reached the open plain, over which now the night was falling
fast. A lantern at some distance off marked the quarters of the officer
on duty; and thither we directed our steps, and at last reached a small
wooden hut, from within which the sounds of mirth and revelry proceeded.
The voice of the sentinel who challenged us brought an officer to the
door, who the moment his eyes fell on me stepped back, and passing his
hand hurriedly across his forehead muttered, half inaudibly, "Another
already!"

While he retired into an inner apartment, I had time to look at the
singular decorations which adorned the walls of the antechamber. Around
on every side, and arranged like trophies, were grouped the weapons o