Part 9 (1/2)

”But we do not wish to get rid of you,” said Pierre ”If you like to remain with us, you shall learn French, and becoo out and help us fish, and gain your livelihood”

Pierre did not say this in as

”He's very kind,” observed Bill; ”but for h I would not hter, for they're both very kind, and we shall have a happy time of it”

This was said a day or two after their arrival

Captain Turgot had fitted them up a couple of bunks in a small room in which Pierre slept, and they were both far more comfortable than they had ever been in their lives

Captain Turgot's cottage was far superior to that of Jack's father; and as for Bill, he had never before slept in so soft a bed They had to reot or Pierre took the, when they could not be observed, to stretch their legs and get a little fresh air

They tried to ot, and they rapidly picked up froood amount of French, so that in a short tih in a curious fashi+on, it ot over their bashfulness, and asked the na they sahich Jeannette was always ready to tell the French afforded her vast aot tired of being shut up in the house, and were very well pleased when one day Captain Turgot brought the away to fish, and would take the they went on board the cutter, and sail being soon afterwards made, she stood out of the harbour

CHAPTER SIX

TAKEN PRISONERS

Jack and Billthe fish when caught Jack ell up to the work, and showed Bill how to do it Captain Turgot was highly pleased, and called thearcons,” and said he hoped that they would reer as they liked When the cutter returned into the harbour to land her fish, Jack and Bill were sent below, so that the authorities ot wason famously with their French, and Bill could chatter away already at a great rate, though not in very good French, to be sure, for he made a number of blunders, which afforded constant amusement to his coht

Jack ress He could not, he said, twist his tongue about sufficiently to get out the words, even when he relish, and those he recollected the best, though, to be sure, they had different s One day the cutter had stood out farther fro dohen, at daybreak, a strange sail was seen in the offing The captain, after taking one look at her, was convinced that she was an enemy

”Quick! quick! my sons,” he shouted: ”we ht by the English They are brave people, but I have no wish to see the inside of one of their prisons”

All hands worked away as if their lives depended on their exertions

Jack and Bill lent a hand as usual They scarcely knehat to wish

Should the stranger prove to be an English shi+p, and come up with them, they would be restored to liberty; but, at the same time, they would feel very sorry that their kind friends should lose their vessel and be made prisoners; still, Jack wanted to let his mother know that he was alive, and Bill wished to be on board aa foot or two up the ratlines

His ambition had been aroused by what the captain had said to hih he had spoken in joke, that he ht, soht the subject over and over, till he began to fancy that, could he get another chance, the road to faht be open to him The loss of the shi+p with the captain and officers seemed, to be sure, to have overthrown all his hopes; but what had happened oncehis eyes open, and his wits awake, hehimself

No one could possibly have suspected as passing in Bill's etically as the rest in stowing the nets and er was now ate, and a fast one, too, by the way she slipped through the water

The as fro thus partially off shore, would enable the frigate to stand in closer to the land than she otherwise reatly diminished the chances of the cutter's escape