"Is Captain James Walsham on board?"
"Yes, sir," James replied.
"Bravo, bravo!" the general cried, delighted.
"Bravo!" he repeated, seizing James Walsham's hand as he stepped on deck. "I did not expect to see you again, Captain Walsham, at least until we took Quebec. Now, come to my cabin at once and tell me all about it. But perhaps you are hungry."
"I am rather hungry, general," James said quietly. "We have had nothing to eat but a crust of bread for three days."
"We? Who are we?" the general asked quickly.
"Mr. Middleton and myself, sir. He escaped after I had left, and joined me."
"The galley fires are out," the admiral said, "but you shall have some cold meat in my cabin, instantly."
James was at once led to the cabin, where, in two or three minutes, food and a bottle of wine were placed before him. The general would not allow him to speak a word, till his hunger was satisfied. Then, when he saw him lay down his knife and fork, he said:
"Now, Captain Walsham, in the first place, have you succeeded--have you found a practicable path down to the river?"