mprisonment seems to have no effect on you, Mr. Mole," said
Harvey; "you begin your old pranks the moment you are released."

"What do you mean?"

"Why, you pass yourself off as an old soldier."

"No, it was our good friend the consul."

"Well, you allowed the colonel to deceive himself."

"It's all the result of my really martial aspect, my dear boy."

And Mole hobbled on, trying to sustain his military appearance.

* * * *

Our friends did not at once leave Marseilles.

They were informed that perhaps they might be required to give evidence
against Murray, so they took up their residence in the best hotel of
the place and waited, the elders of the party being perfectly content
now that the youngsters had regained their liberty.

However, as events turned out, they were not called upon to attend the
trial of the shipowner's son, as Monsieur Hocquart Clermont Delamarre
and his assistants managed to pile up quite sufficient proof to
convince the judge of Herbert Murray's guilt.

He, Lenoir, and Chivey, who certainly was not so deeply involved as his
master, were sentenced to serve ten years each in the galleys.

Lenoir's original sentence was fifteen years, but the promised
intercession of the consul was effectual in shortening it to ten.

There was, however, another trial, at which young Jack and Harry
Girdwood were requested to attend, and the prisoner in this case was
the gaoler to whom they had entrusted their letters to the consul.

He being clearly convicted of receiving bribes from prisoners, was
sentenced to two years' imprisonment, and so retires from the scene.

Young Jack, his parents, Harry Girdwood, Harvey, little Emily, and
Paquita were taking a walk in the neighborhood of the harbour one
morning, when they became aware of a very dismal-looking procession
coming down the road from the prison.

First of all came half a dozen soldiers, trailing their rifles, which
were evidently loaded and ready for instant use.

Then, in single file, about a yard behind each other, and every man
with his right leg attached by a ring to a long chain that extended the
entire length of the party, came ten men clad in garments of very
coarse serge, and with closely-cropped heads.

The instant he saw them in the distance, young Jack guessed what it
meant, and pointed the gang out to the others.

"Let us get away if we can," said he.

"Why?" asked Harvey.

"Beca