"Oh, monsieur the colonel, you are the best of men. If you had only had the training of her instead of my poor gentle Francis, she might not be so hard to manage now."
"We must not flatter ourselves, madame. But Mademoiselle Angélique must not remain here much longer for anybody's whim."
"Do you think the water is rising?"
"It is certainly rising."
Madame Saucier uttered a shriek as a great swell rolled the boat. The searching wind penetrated all her garments and blew back loose ends of her hair. There was now a partially clear sky, and the moon sent forth a little lustre as a hint of what she might do when she had entirely freed herself from clouds.
The children were lowered, and after them their black nurse.
"There is room for at least one more!" called Pierre Menard.
Captain Saucier stood irresolute.
"Can you not trust me with these fragments of our families?" said Rice.
"Certainly, Monsieur Reece, certainly. It is not that. But you see the water is still rising."