a wanton outrage on the part of
the French, inflicted by way of retaliation in consequence of the
count's refusal to obey a discourteous summons from their general at
Ajaccio. I was successful beyond my utmost hopes, my fair companion
deriving from my representations a comfort and reassurance which I
scarcely intended, but which I certainly had not the heart to take away
again, so that by the time we reached Ajaccio--which we did without
adventure of any kind--she had grown to regard the whole affair with a
very tolerable amount of equanimity.

After striking the high road we performed the remainder of the journey
at a foot-pace, our object being to reach the town by about one o'clock
in the morning, by which time Giaccomo assured me the entire inhabitants
of the place would be in bed and fast asleep.

On reaching that point in the road where I had taken leave of Rawlings,
the "Juno's" sailing-master, we dismounted, and turning the horses'
heads homeward, after adjusting their bridles so that they would not be
likely to trail on the ground or entangle their feet, Giaccomo
administered to each of the animals a smart stroke across the flank with
his riding whip, which sent them off at a rattling gallop back along the
road we had come, the man assuring me that they would be certain to keep
on steadily until they again found themselves at their stable door at
the chateau. We did this so as to avoid the necessity of attracting
attention to ourselves by seeking stabling for them in the town at that
late hour. When our steeds were fairly out of sight we resumed our way,
and walked leisurely into Ajaccio, which we safely reached just about
the time we had previously fixed upon as most desirable for our arrival.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

THE "MOUETTE", THE "VIGILANT", AND THE "REQUIN."

On reaching the port my first consideration was to discover a suitable
craft in which to make the trip along the coast to the north end of the
island. When it actually came to the point I must confess that the idea
of seizing and carrying off the property of somebody else was extremely
repugnant to me. Still, I could see no other course open without
exposing the party to imminent danger of betrayal, and I had resolved in
my own mind that, since necessity seemed to point to the deprivation of
some unfortunate individual of his property, the deprivation should be
only temporary; I would take the most suitable boat I could find, and
when don