Part 49 (2/2)
”I can't say much for Peek's French, or for my own either I would rather state at once e are,” said Rayner ”Le Duc is an honest fellow, and he will explain e came on the coast, and will tell the asked, replied that he would gladly undertake whatever the English officers wished, and it was arranged that as soon as they got near the house he should go on and ascertain the disposition of the inhabitants Should they be ill-disposed towards the English he was to return, and they would go on rather than run the risk of being detained and sent to prison
Sooner than they had expected they got close up to as evidently a house of considerable size, as the lights caround While Le Duc went forward, the rest of the party remained concealed under shelter of so showed that several dogs were on the watch
He advanced, however, boldly, calling to the dogs, and shouting for soh satisfied that he was not a thief, seemed to suspect that there were other persons not far off
”I say, here the brutes co us to pieces The people in these parts, I have read, have great big bloodhounds to hunt the Indians with If they come near us we must knock them over”
”That won't make the people inclined to treat us s find we are quiet, they'll let us alone”
Just then the voice of sos, ent back to the house
Some time passed At last Le Duc's voice was heard It was too dark to see hied,ladies in the house I told thelish, and would be very happy to give you shelter and food, but that you must come quietly so that no one but their old brown irls ait on them, should know that you are in the house Follow oodness to tell theinto trouble”
”I'll tell the to the three seah you are on shore you belong to the _Lily_, and are, therefore, as much under discipline as if you were on board”
They now proceeded towards the house, led by Le Duc The two officers going first, theyinside the house, they saw an olda couple of wax candles He beckoned them with his head to follow, and led the way to an inner room, when an old lady advanced toladies, whoht very handso eyes and black tresses, their costuant, and suited to that warhters, Sophie and Virginie The , and Rayner, as spokes in their wet and somewhat torn clothes
”We have received the invitation madame has been so kind as to afford us, and we throw ourselves on her hospitality” He then repeated what he had told Le Duc to say
”You shall have your necessities supplied, and I will gladly do all I can to protect and help you regain your shi+p,” she said ”I was once with e frolish shi+p-of-war, and ere treated by the English officers as if we had been princesses Ah! they were indeed true gentleht two of thehters, but stern duty compelled them to sail away after they had landed us, and we have never heard of thee to them, if you will tell us their naed,” said Rayner, ”should we be fortunate enough to fall in with thehters will tell you by-and-by,” answered the old lady ”You, I see, require to change your dresses, which you can do while supper is preparing My maitre d'hotel will look to your men with the help of the French sailor whoe”
”One of the, I fear,” said Rayner; ”hehimself, with the assistance of his shi+p”
”Be sure that I will attend to hiery, and it will be a satisfaction to exercise it on one of your countrymen; but now Francois will conduct you to a rooarments as he can collect Your men in the meantime will be attended to”
Francois on this stepped forith his candles, and, with an ini officers to follow hihters, followed the e room with two beds in it, as also a couple of cane sofas, several chairs, a table, and, as of no sdem some dry clothes,” said Francois
Rayner and Oliver requested, however, that they ht be allowed, in the first place, to wash their hands and faces
This done, they jureed that, if they were not so hungry, they would infinitely prefer going to sleep to having to get up again and ot possession of their clothes he hurried away, but shortly returned, bringing with his, and two antiquated court suits
They were, he said, the only costulish officers, and he begged that they would put theh not much inclined for ot into the white satin small clothes offered them
They then put on the richly-e, came down over their hips Their frilled shi+rts stuck out in front to a considerable distance, but when they came to the coats, Rayner, who had the broadest pair of shoulders, felt considerable fear lest he should split his across, while his hands projected some way beyond the ruffles which adorned the wrists
Francois assisted the, and after they had tied their neckcloths, he begged, with a lo, to fasten on their swords When their costumes were complete he stepped back, and surveyed them with evident satisfaction