y and of
thankfulness; and then, stung to action by the chill wind, which set
their teeth chattering, they got to their feet and scrambled painfully
along the rocks until they reached the marshy bank of the inlet. Thence
a pilgrimage scarcely less painful, through gorse and rushes, brought
them at the end of ten minutes to the jetty.

Here, too, all was quiet. If any of O'Sullivan Og's party had saved
themselves they were not to be seen, nor was there any indication that
the accident was known on shore. It was still early, but little after
six, the day Sunday; and apart from the cackling of poultry, and the
grunting of hogs, no sound came from O'Sullivan's house or the hovels
about it.

While Colonel John had been picking his way over the rocks and between
the gorse bushes, his thoughts had not been idle; and now, without
hesitation, he made along the jetty until the masts of the French sloop
loomed beside it. He boarded the vessel by a plank and looked round
him. There was no watch on deck, but a murmur of talk came from the
forecastle and a melancholy voice piping a French song rose from the
depths of the cabin. Colonel John bade Bale follow him--they were
shivering from head to foot--and descended the companion.

The singer was Captain Augustin. He lay on his back in his bunk, while
his mate, between sleep and waking, formed an unwilling audience.

Tout mal chausse, tout mal vetu,

sang the Captain in a doleful voice,

Pauvre marin, d'ou reviens-tu?
Tout doux! Tout doux!

With the last word on his lips, he called on the name of his Maker, for
he saw two half-naked, dripping figures peering at him through the open
door. For the moment he took them, by the dim light, for the revenants
of drowned men; while his mate, a Breton, rose on his elbow and
shrieked aloud.

It was only when Colonel John called them by name that they were
reassured, lost their fears, and recognised in the pallid figures
before them their late passenger and his attendant. Then, as the two
Frenchmen sprang to their feet, the cabin rang with oaths and
invocations, with _Mon Dieu!_ and _Ma foi!_ Immediately clothes were
fetched, and rough cloths to dry the visitors and restore warmth to
their limbs, and cognac and food--for the two were half starved.
Meantime, and while these comforts were being administered, and half
the crew, crouching about the companion, listened, and volleys of
questions rained upon him, Colonel John tol