Part 24 (1/2)

He had finished his survey, and settled his plan, when Jack cried out, ”Hist! there's so!” and they ran back and sat themselves down near the table with their heads on their hands, as if they were feeling very melancholy and disconsolate

”I wish I could squeeze out a tear,” said Jack; ”but I can't for the life ofoff”

Presently the door opened, and an old woht you soarcons,” she said, in a kind tone ”The general gaveit, as I knew that you et away You would have been drowned to a certainty if you hadn't been caught, and that would have been sad, for one of you, they say, wanted to get back to see his ot a son at sea, so I can feel for her I wish he was safe back again I don't knohat they will do with you, but I hear that you are to be tried to-morrow, and the Irish officer here says you are spies, and if so, you will run a great chance of being hung, or, at all events, shut up in a prison till you confess what you have been about Ah! but I forgot They say you don't speak French, and you may not have understood a word I have said”

Jack and Bill could scarcely refrain fro as the old woman ran on, but they restrained themselves, and when she showed them the contents of the basket, they merely said, ”Bon! bon! merci! merci!”

several times, and looked very well pleased, as indeed they were, for there was food enough to last thees, bread, figs, raisins, and butter, besides the bottle of wine

They were afraid of drinking et into their heads, for they wanted no Dutch courage to do what they intended--they had pluck enough without that

The old woman--not that she was so very old, but she was s closely, which made her look older than she was--stood by, after she had covered the table with the provisions, that shethe boys eat

They were very willing to give her that pleasure, and set to with a good appetite

She snantly, and patted the away the various things They were not very particular as to which they took first

”Bon! bon!” said Jack, every now and then, as he saw that his saying so pleased her ”Merci! merci!”

She poured theht, and he ns to her that he would drink it by-and-by, as he did not like to show her how much he disliked it

Jack was not so particular, but he was content with a s

”I hope she is not going to stop till we have done,” said Bill, ”or she may take away the remainder I'll try and make her understand that we should like a little s into the basket We'll then show her that we do not wish her to take them away”

The kind old housekeeper of the chateau--for such she was--seemed to understand the boys' wishes Bill even ventured to say a feords in French, which would show her what they wanted; and at last, wishi+ng theht, she took her departure

They heard the door locked and bolted after she went out, as if by some other person; and it ht, should they make any noise, look in to see what they were about

It would be necessary, therefore, to be extres

”There's no one ,” said Bill, who had crept to the door to listen

He, of course, spoke in a lohisper ”I vote we set to work at once and ht to be off as soon as the people have turned in, as we ood distance froht”

”Suppose any one was to co up our bed-clothes,”

said Jack, ”it would be suspected ere going to do”

”We'll keep the coverlid till the last, so as to throw it over the bed should we hear a step on the stair; we e, and pretend that we are too sorrowful to think of going to bed,” said Bill

”That will do,” replied Jack; ”I never was a good hand at piping my eye, but I know that I should be inclined to blubber if I thought there was a chance of being found out”

”There's no use talking about that We oes” And he forthwith turned back the coverlid, and began h ths, he calculated that a rope forth for their purpose, and they were quickly cut through with their knives, and each length was then twisted tightly up