, it was suspected that he rather liked to be
joked on the subject.

"I should like to have a look out too," said Ronald, climbing up by the
inequalities in the stone wall and the planks which formed the side of
the tower.

The sun was just sinking in the ocean, and casting a rich glow over the
whole western sky. The storm had completely ceased, though the waves
still rolled in with a loud roar, lining the coast with a fringe of
foam.

The tide was low; a few ribs on the reef, almost abreast of the tower,
was the only remnant of this once beautiful frigate, with the addition
of the broken timbers and planks which strewed the shore, and which the
peasantry had not yet carried off. The appearance of the coast indeed
in the immediate neighbourhood of the tower offered no hopes of escape
to the Englishmen, even should they succeed in getting out of their
prison. To the north, however, Morton observed a high reef of black
rocks, running out into the sea, and circling round so as to form a
secure harbour. Two or three small craft were floating on the surface
of this little haven, either launched after the gale, or which had
ridden it out in safety, while several boats, appearing like black dots
on the yellow sand, lay drawn up on the beach.

Ronald was still employed in making his survey, when steps were heard
ascending the rickety creaking stairs of the tower, and Mr Calder
ordered him down, that he might not excite the suspicion of the
Frenchmen that they entertained the idea of escaping.

The door opened, and two soldiers entered with a jar of wine, and some
bread and cheese and fruit. Placing the provisions before the
lieutenant, they made signs that he might divide them among his people.
Ronald, thinking it might be politic to get into conversation with them,
mustering all his knowledge of French, thanked them warmly for what they
had brought.

The man answered, somewhat gruffly, that they were only obeying orders,
and that they had been directed by a young officer of the marine, who
had been wrecked, to bring the provisions.

"Pray thank him for us, and say how grateful we feel for his gift," said
Ronald.

"We may not see him again," answered one of the men. "He is ill in bed,
and he will be going away into the interior, as soon as he is able to be
removed."

The men said that they did not know the young officer's name. There
could be little doubt, however, that Alfonse Gerardin had sent the
provisio