“Nothing would please me better than to set sail within the hour; but according to my thinking we had best keep away from the shore during this night at least, for if the Britishers have sentinels near to the mainland to prevent any one from coming upon the point, they know beyond a question we arrived in a boat of some kind, and most likely men are searching for our craft, if they have not already found her. After sunrise Leon can easily learn the condition of affairs, and thus we shall avoid running unnecessarily into danger.”
I was not thoroughly convinced that this would be the wisest course, for it seemed to me better that we take some chances with the hope of getting away speedily, than to linger where there was so much of danger.
However, I said nothing, luckily, else would I have been put to shame two or three hours later, when we were come near to where Leon lived.
Alec gave the lad the proper course, as I have said, and held him to it so truly by observing the stars from time to time, that considerably before midnight we were standing where we could distinguish the outlines of the coast at a point, as the French lad declared, within three miles of his home, and so far from the encampment that there was little fear of coming upon the redcoats, unless, peradventure, squads of them were out in search of us.
From this point our advance was a reasonably rapid one, the guide striking a path through the thicket which he knew full well, and when we had come within five hundred yards, as he declared, of the dwelling, Alec said, coming to a halt:—
“We two will stop hereabout, and do you go ahead, Leon, to learn if the soldiers have visited the house.”
All this seemed to me like an excess of precaution, for there was nothing to be heard save the ordinary noises of the night in the forest, and I could see no reason why we should not make ourselves as comfortable as possible, at least until daybreak.
Leon, having every faith in Alec’s judgment, did not delay; but went on swiftly, leaving us alone, and there we remained until it seemed positive to me the French lad had abandoned us.
More than once I would have spoken with my comrade, urging some such possibility, but that he, pressing his hand over my mouth whenever I made the attempt, thus ensured silence, and the darkness of night was beginning to give way slightly to the coming day when Leon finally returned.
He had in his arms a bulky package, and when I sprang up to meet him intimated by gestures that I should remain quiet.