“Well, this is a queer set out,” said Uncle Paul. “Then you are the two fellows who broke into my bedroom and helped yourselves to my purse?”
“Ha, ha! Yes, my friend,” cried the officer, laughing; “but you and your brave son will forgive. We were poor exiles and prisoners fighting for our liberty, and you will let us make amends.”
“Oh, well, you did,” said Uncle Paul bluffly; “but that is no excuse for turning pirates and trying to rob me of my ship at the point of the sword.”
“No, no,” cried the officer hastily, “but you are a brave Englishman, and you and your son—”
“No, sir, my nephew.”
”—will forgive. One moment; let me think!” cried the officer, as he dragged his hand from out of his sword-knot and thrust the blade into its sheath. “Yes, yes, let me think. I have it, Morny,” and turning to his followers he uttered a short sharp command which resulted in his men swinging themselves over the side and entering the two boats in which they had effected the surprise of the schooner.
At their first movement in retreat the skipper’s crew burst into a loud jeering laugh, and made as if to rush forward; but at a word from Captain Chubb they were silenced and held back.
“I thank you, sir,” said the French officer, raising his hat to the skipper. “It was well done. Now let me speak; let me explain,” and he looked from Rodd to his uncle and back, and then gave a glance at the skipper, while the two lads stood hand in hand.
“It was like this,” he said; “you saw us at Havre that stormy day, and of course my brig nearly crushed into your vessel. Then we lay at anchor close together till that order came down from a vile insensate Government to seize upon my vessel and my crew. It was the work of enemies, and I had to set sail at once, or once more my son and I would have had to pass years in the inside of a prison, not as culprits, monsieur, but as honourable gentlemen, French nobles, whose only crime was fidelity to one,”—and as he spoke he stopped short, uttering the word one with grave reverence, as he took off his hat—an example followed by his son. “Well, gentlemen, I cannot explain to you. There is not time. Only this—you saw that I made what you English call a dash for it—for freedom. It was like madness, but we said we would rather trust the storm than the French Government. They sent boats full of soldiers to seize us, but we kept on. They opened fire upon us from the forts, but we did not shrink.”
“Yes, yes, we saw all,” cried Uncle Paul, “and a very brave dash you made.”