ction; "I would
rather remain a prisoner than run away with the lugger, even if we could
accomplish the undertaking; much less would I injure any of the poor
fellows remaining on board. Just consider, what should we say if a set
of Frenchmen treated us in that way?"

"Anything is lawful in war," he answered, not agreeing with my notion.
"The Frenchmen should have kept a better look-out after us."

"You forget that the captain and mate left us intentionally with the
means of escape at our disposal, and which they clearly pointed out to
us. I am sorry that I even thought of carrying off the lugger, and much
more that I mentioned it to you."

At length I brought Andrews round to see the proposal in the light I
did, and he promised not to mention it to any one else. Thus
conversing, the time passed by much more rapidly than it had done when I
was left to my own thoughts. I felt sure it must be getting late. I
looked at my watch; it was nearly ten o'clock, the hour at which La
Motte had told me the guard-boat made her rounds. I became very anxious
about him; I felt almost sure that he must have been seized, and if so
he ran a great risk of being considered a spy, in which case he would
have been immediately shot. We, however, could do nothing; we must sit
still and wait. There is no greater trial for men than this. If we had
had any work to do, we could have borne it much better. It wanted but
ten minutes to ten.

"Some accident must have befallen your old shipmate," said Andrews; "if
he does not come back, we must make the attempt without him. I marked
well the entrance of the harbour. If we muffle our oars, and keep close
under the fort, we may slip out without being observed. Are you
inclined to make the attempt?"

"Certainly," I answered; "I would run any risk to be free. Ah! what is
that? I saw something moving on the water. It is the guard-boat
coming. What shall we reply?"

"We had better slip down below, and let them hail us till they are
hoarse," replied Andrews. "But no; that is not the guard-boat; it is
the dinghy."

In another instant La Motte was alongside. He sprang on board. "I have
it!" he exclaimed; "but I have had a sharp run for it, and was very
nearly taken. Even now I am not certain that I am not pursued, I have
been thinking of an explanation to give for being on shore, if I am
found out. I must pass for a Frenchman belonging to the lugger. Do you
two go below, and preten