he rail waved them back.

"Zen ve don't vant you here!" he cried shrilly. "Go vay dam quick, or
else ze soldier shoot." As if in obedience to an order the stolid
guard brought his weapon menacingly to the shoulder.

How the episode terminated I did not remain to learn. At that moment I
only clearly comprehended this--I had a way opened, an exceedingly
slight one to be sure, of doubtful utility, yet still a way, which
might lead me into the guarded mystery of that ship. The time for
action had arrived, and that was like a draught of wine to me. Eagerly
I slipped back through the increasing crowd of gaping countrymen, to
where the negro had found a spot of comfort in the sun.

"Alphonse!" I called, careful to modulate my voice. "Wake up, you
black sleepy-head! Ay! I have you at last in the world again. Now
stop blinking, and pay heed to what I say. Do you chance to know
where, for love, money, or any consideration, you could lay hands on
olives in this town?"

The fellow, scarcely awake, rolled up the whites of his eyes for a
moment, and scratched his woolly pate, as if seeking vainly to conjure
up some long-neglected memory. Then his naturally good-humored
countenance relaxed into a broad grin.

"Fo' de Lord, yas sah! I'se your man dis time suah 'nough. Dat fat
ol' Dutchman, down by de Tehoupitoulas Gate, suah as you're born had a
whole barrel ob dem yesterday. I done disremember fer de minute, boss,
jist whar I done saw dem olibs, but I reckon as how de money 'd fotch
'em all right."

I drew forth a handful of French coins.

"Then run for it, lad!" I exclaimed in some excitement. "Your master's
life hangs upon your speed--hold, wait! do you remember that old
tumble-down shed we passed on our way here; the one which had once been
a farrier's shop?"

The negro nodded, his eyes filled with awakened interest.

"Good; then first of all bring me a suit of the worst looking old
clothes you can scare up in the negro quarters of this town. Leave
them there. Then go directly to this Dutchman's, buy every olive he
has for sale at any price, load them into a boat--a common huckster's
boat, mind you, and remain there with them until I come. Do you
understand all that?"

"Yas, Massa; I reckon as how I kin do dat all right 'nough." The
fellow grinned, every white ivory showing between his thick red lips.

"Don't stop to speak to any one, black or white. Now trot along
lively, and may the Lord have mer