scarcely bring
myself to lie down. I watched the little boat with intense anxiety as
he pulled away towards the shore. I felt much for him, but I must
confess that for my own sake I was still more anxious for his success.
I was indeed enduring a bitter trial. May none of those who read my
history have to go through the same! The thought of being a second time
disappointed in my hopes of returning home, and of learning the fate of
my beloved wife, was more than I could bear. My movements showed the
agitation of my mind. Sometimes I sat down on a gun; then I rose and
walked the deck; then I went below and threw myself on a locker in the
cabin; but I was quickly on deck again looking out for La Motte. Then I
recollected that he was not at all likely to return so soon, so I once
more went below to try and warm my chilled limbs.

Another fear assailed me. I was afraid that if we delayed, some of the
drunken Frenchmen might recover from their stupor and find out our
project. All of a sudden another idea occurred to me,--if we got the
watchword, could we not carry the lugger and all her senseless crew away
together? We might handcuff them all without the slightest difficulty.
I own that for the moment I forgot how ungrateful such an act would be
to her captain and mate, who had treated us so kindly. While I was
thinking on the subject, Andrews woke up and looked about him.

"Is it time yet for us to be off!" he asked, in a whisper.

"No, not yet. But I say, Andrews, are you ready to carry a bold project
into execution?" I asked in a low voice. I then told him what I had
thought of. He jumped at the idea.

"With all my heart!" he answered. "Nothing I should like better. I
hate these Frenchmen, and as for the drunken rascals on board, we can
soon settle them; if they are likely to be troublesome, as soon as we
get clear of the harbour, we may heave them all overboard."

"What are you thinking about?" I exclaimed, horrified at the
cold-blooded way in which he spoke of murdering so many of our
fellow-creatures. Suddenly, the proposal I had made burst on me in its
true light. Of what black ingratitude should we have been guilty in
depriving the men who had trusted us, of their property; and then, had
we followed the suggestion offered by Andrews, of destroying in cold
blood a number of our fellow-men, who at all events had committed no
crime against us!

"No, Andrews, no!" I answered, after a little refle