on
necessary to enable me to find my way to the various points I deemed it
most important to visit, I shouldered my basket of fish, and set out on
my way to the residence of Monsieur le Maire.

As I slouched heavily and leisurely along the streets, affecting as
nearly as I could the clumsy gait of a common seaman on _terra firma_, I
glanced carefully about me to note such signs as might make themselves
visible of the state of things within the town. It was not however
until I reached the more respectable business quarter of the town that I
was able to detect much. Then I observed tickets in the windows and on
the stalls, announcing the various articles for sale--and especially
provisions--at _only_--such a price--and exorbitantly high these prices
were, too.

I soon had reason to see that my resolution to report myself was a wise
one; for I had not proceeded far on my way before I found myself the
subject of sundry suspicious glances, and shortly afterwards a corporal
of infantry hurried up behind, and, laying his hand upon my shoulder,
exclaimed,--

"Halt, friend, and give me your name and place of residence, if you
please. You are a fisherman, apparently, yet two of your own people
have just pointed you out to me as certainly a stranger."

"I _am_ a stranger, comrade," I replied composedly. "I only arrived in
Bastia late last night, after effecting my escape from the British fleet
two hours previously. Two of the fishermen belonging to this place--
Jean Leferrier and Pierre Cousin by name--venturing too far off shore
last night, were pounced upon and made prisoners by a boat belonging to
the fleet. They were placed in irons, and confined between the same two
guns as myself, and learning that I intended trying to escape, they
directed me how to find my way on shore, and how to behave when here;
giving me also a note to convey to Madame Leferrier. I am now on my way
to the house of Monsieur le Maire to report myself."

"Good!" exclaimed my unwelcome companion; "I will accompany you there,
and show you the house, since you are a stranger."

I did not, of course, dare to manifest any objection to such a proposal,
or I should instantly have been made a prisoner, if indeed I might not
consider myself in reality one already.

I accordingly acquiesced in the most cheerful manner I could assume; and
we trudged on together, I describing, in response to the corporal's
questioning, the details of my assumed escape.