nly."

"M. Laflamme will escape to-night if possible, and join Carbourd on the
Pascal River, at a safe spot that I know." She told him of the Cave.

"Yes, yes, I understand. You would help him. And I?"

"You will help me. You will?"

There was a slight pause, and then he said: "Yes, I will. But think what
this is to an Englishman-to yourself, to be accomplice to the escape of
a French prisoner."

"I gave a promise to a man whom I think deserves it. He believed he was
a patriot. If you were in that case, and I were a Frenchwoman, I would
do the same for you."

He smiled rather grimly and said: "If it please you that this man
escape, I shall hope he may, and will help you.... Here comes your
father."

"I could not let my father know," she said. "He has no sympathy for any
one like that, for any one at all, I think, but me."

"Don't be down-hearted. If you have set your heart on this, I will try
to bring it about, God knows! Now let us be less gloomy. Conspirators
should smile. That is the cue. Besides, the world is bright. Look at the
glow upon the hills."

"I suppose the Semaphore is glistening on the Hill of Pains; but I
cannot see it."

He did not understand her.

II

A few hours after this conversation, Laflamme sought to accomplish
his escape. He had lately borne a letter from the Commandant, which
permitted him to go from point to point outside the peninsula of Ducos,
where the least punished of the political prisoners were kept. He
depended somewhat on this for his escape. Carbourd had been more heroic,
but then Carbourd was desperate. Laflamme believed more in ability than
force. It was ability and money that had won over the captain of the
Parroquet, coupled with the connivance of an old member of the Commune,
who was now a guard. This night there was increased alertness, owing to
the escape of Carbourd; and himself, if not more closely watched, was
at least open to quick suspicion owing to his known friendship for
Carbourd. He strolled about the fortified enclosure, chatting to fellow
prisoners, and waiting for the call which should summon them to the
huts. Through years of studied good-nature he had come to be regarded as
a contented prisoner. He had no enemies save one among the guards. This
man Maillot he had offended by thwarting his continued ill-treatment of
a young lad who had been one of the condemned of the Commune, and whose
hammock, at last, by order of the Commandant, was slung in L