"We must escape from here, somehow!" he cried. "To submit to arrest means death—for you as well as myself."
"How so?"
"Did you not witness the whipping without attempting to interfere?" he sneered. "They'd string you up as quick as I—especially when investigation came to prove you to be Madame Lisset, the notorious French smuggler."
The woman's turn it was to whiten now, and a suppressed curse escaped from between her clinched teeth.
"I vas one big fool for evaire anchoring here, or having you for me agent," she replied. "Somesing must be done, and zat vera quick. What s'all it be?"
"There is but one course—flight. Go to my room and get all the money and jewels there. When you come back, I will be ready."
She obeyed, and in a very short space of time returned, dressed ready for escape.
Leaving the house by the rear door, they skulked hurriedly along a narrow lane.
This soon brought them out into the country, and into an orchard.
Without pausing, the chief of smugglers made a wide detour, which finally brought them out upon the beach, half a mile north of the village, and directly opposite the steamer "Countess," which lay a good two miles out at sea, at anchor.