Part 26 (2/2)

”This here's the place, the i-dentical place,” said Zac, in joyous tones. ”I knowed it; I was sure of it. Come along, little un. We ain't got much further to go--only to that thar headland; and then, ef I ain't mistook, we'll find the end to our tramp.”

With these cheering words he led the way along the sh.o.r.e, until at last they reached the headland. It was rocky and bare of trees. Up this Zac ran, followed by Margot, and soon reached the top.

”All right!” he cried. ”See thar!” and he pointed out to the sea.

Margot had Already seen it: it was the schooner, lying there at anchor.

”Eet ees de sheep,” said Margot, joyously; ”but how sall we geet to her?”

”O, they're on the lookout,” said Zac. ”I'll give signals.”

The schooner was not more than a quarter of a mile off. Zac and Margot were on the bare headland, and could easily be seen. On board the schooner figures were moving up and down. Zac looked for a few moments, as if to see whether it was all right, and then gave a peculiar cry, something like the cawing of a crow, which he repeated three times. The sound was evidently heard, for at once there was a movement on board. Zac waved his hat. Then the movement stopped, and a boat shot out from the schooner, with a man in it, who rowed towards the headland. He soon came near enough to be recognized. It was Terry. Zac and Margot hurried to the sh.o.r.e to meet it, and in a short time both were on board the Parson.

Great was the joy that was evinced by Terry at the return of his captain. He had a host of questions to ask about his adventures, and reproached Zac over and over for not allowing him to go also. Jericho showed equal feeling, but in a more emphatic form, since it was evinced in the shape of a substantial meal, which was most welcome to Zac, and to Margot also. As for Biler, he said not a word, but stood with his melancholy face turned towards his master, and his jaws moving as though engaged in devouring something.

”Sure, an' it's glad I am,” said Terry, ”for it's not comfortable I've been--so it ain't. I don't like bein' shut up here, at all, at all. So we'll just up sail, captain dear, an' be off out of this.”

”O, no,” said Zac; ”we've got to wait for the others.”

”Wait--is it?” said Terry.

”Yes.”

”Sure, thin, an' there's a sail out beyant. Ye can't see it now, but ye'll see it soon, for it's been batin' up to the land all the mornin'.”

”A sail!” exclaimed Zac.

”Yis; an' it's a Frinchman--so it is; an' big enough for a dozen of the likes of us.”

Further inquiry elicited the startling information that early in the morning Terry had seen, far away in the horizon, a large s.h.i.+p, which had pa.s.sed backward and forward while beating up towards the land against a head wind, and was just now concealed behind a promontory on the south. At this Zac felt that his situation was a serious one, and he had to decide what to do. To hoist sail and venture forth to sea would be to discover himself, and lay himself open to certain capture; while to remain where he was gave him the chance of being overlooked. So he decided to remain, and trust to luck. Once, indeed, he thought of going ash.o.r.e once more, but this thought was at once dismissed. On sh.o.r.e he would be lost. The woods were full of his enemies, and he could hardly hope to reach any English settlement. To himself alone the chance was but slight, while for Margot it was impossible. To leave her now was not to be thought of, and besides, the schooner was the only hope for Claude, who might still be in the neighborhood. The consequence was, that Zac decided to do nothing but remain here and meet his fate, whatever that might be.

Scarcely had he come to this decision, when a sight met his eyes out beyond the southern promontory, where his gaze had been turned.

There, moving majestically along the sea, he saw a large frigate. It was not more than a mile away. For about a quarter of an hour the s.h.i.+p sailed along, and Zac was just beginning to hope that he had not been seen, when suddenly she came to, and a boat was lowered.

”She sees us!” said Terry.

Zac made no reply.

Yes; there was no doubt of it. They had been seen. Those on board the s.h.i.+p had been keeping a sharp lookout, and had detected the outline of the schooner sharply defined against the light limestone rock of the headland near which she lay. To escape was not to be thought of.

The boat was coming towards them, filled with armed men. Zac stood quite overwhelmed with dejection; and thus he stood as the Parson was boarded and seized by the lieutenant of his French majesty's Vengeur, who took possession of her in the name of his king.

No sooner had Zac found himself in the power of the enemy, than a remarkable change took place in the respective positions of himself and Margot with regard to one another. Thus far he had been her protector; but now she became his. The first words that she spoke to the lieutenant served to conciliate his favor, and secure very respectful treatment for Zac, and seemed to convey such important intelligence that he concluded at once to transfer Margot to the Vengeur, where she could tell her story to the captain.

”Adieu,” said she. ”We sall soon see again. Do not fear. I make zem let you go.”

”Wal, little un, I'll try an' hope. But, mind, unless I get you, I don't much mind what becomes o' me.”

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