spectacle
of the storm, until an increasing sensation of fatigue reminded me of
the desirability of resting while I had the opportunity. I accordingly
fixed upon a spot which seemed tolerably free from the eddies of wind
which found easy access to the building, and first, by some strange
instinct for which I cannot account, concealing the bag in which were
the despatches among the wood stacked in the corner, placed my back
against the wall, and folding my arms soon dropped off into a deep
sleep, lulled thereto by the sound of the pouring rain upon the root.

I seemed to have been asleep but a few minutes, when I became conscious
of an odour of burning pine; then through my still-closed eyelids I
perceived that the hut was lighted up. I heard the crackling sound of
the blazing torch, and, as consciousness fully returned, I also heard
voices speaking in a low tone in French.

"Are you quite certain this is he? Why, he is a mere lad!" I heard a
voice exclaim.

"Quite sure, noble signor," replied another voice, gruff, harsh, and
repellent. "I could see plainly, though the night was dark; I had been
watching the approach of the boat, and had been lying so long concealed
in the darkest part of the ruins that my eyes had grown thoroughly
accustomed to the gloom, so that when I followed this one and the other
to the road, it seemed quite light. Moreover, they both passed close to
me as I was making my way through the trees towards the road, and I saw
their faces distinctly enough to recognise them both again wherever I
might meet them. I never forget a face I have once seen," the voice
added in a sinister tone.

"Umph!" ejaculated the first voice. "I can scarcely credit that the
English captain would be fool enough to entrust important despatches to
so young an officer. Poor lad! how soundly he sleeps; he must have lost
his way and been wandering aimlessly about in the wood. By-the-way, did
you hear him say where he had secreted those same despatches?"

"No, signor, I did not; but he had a bag with him when he landed, no
doubt they are in that."

"A bag? What sort of a bag? I see no bag here anywhere. Perhaps--look
here, Monsieur Guiseppe, or whatever your name is, I hope you are not
playing fast and loose with us. You have not stolen the bag and handed
over the despatches to some of your own people, claiming a reward for
the safe conveyance of such important documents, eh?"

"Stolen? For what does your m