You had best hide them about you; you may find them
come in useful. The boy is to have ten. Of course he is glad of the
chance; but at the same time he is doing us good service, and he has
worked well since he came on board. It will help him to get a passage
home."
"Thank you, captain. That twenty napoleons may help me to get out of
an English prison. I will manage a hiding place for them. And now I
think, captain, we will be off at once--at least as soon as we have
had our dinner. It's a good long way across the island to where that
schooner was lying, and I shall have to choose a place for my fire so
that it can be seen from the top of the hill."
At dinner Jacques told his comrades that he was going to remain behind
and act as signalman for them. A good deal of regret was expressed by
his shipmates, many of whom came like himself from Dunkirk, and had
known him from a boy. Before starting he went to the sailmaker and got
him to open the soles of his shoes; he then inserted ten napoleons in
each, and the sailmaker sewed them up again. Then making his clothes
into a kit and getting a couple of bottles of wine from the steward,
he shook hands with his messmates, and was with Ralph rowed ashore.
On landing they cut two sticks and hung their kits upon these, Ralph
taking charge of the lantern, while both were provided with tinder and
steel.
Pages:
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139