Bill o’ Burnt Bay began to laugh again. Archie joined him. But Josiah Cove pointed out the necessity of doing something––anything––and doing it quickly. It was all very well to laugh, said he; and although it might seem a comical thing to be standing on the deck of a captured schooner, the comedy would be the Frenchman’s if they were caught in the act. But Archie still chuckled away; the situation was quite too ridiculous to be taken seriously. Archie had never been a pirate before; he didn’t feel like one now––but he rather liked the feeling he had.
“We can’t stay aboard,” said he, presently.
“Blest if I want t’ go ashore,” said Bill.
“We got t’ go ashore,” Josiah put in. 154
Before they left the deck of the Heavenly Home (the watchman having then been made more comfortable), it was agreed that the schooner could not make the open sea in the teeth of the wind. That was obvious; and it was just as obvious that the Newfoundlander could not stay aboard. The discovery of the watchman in the cabin must be chanced until such a time as a fair wind came in the night. On their way to the obscure wharf at which they landed it was determined that Josiah should board the schooner at nine o’clock, noon, and six o’clock of the next day to feed the captured watchman and to set the galley fire going for half an hour to allay suspicion.
“An’ Skipper Bill,” said Josiah, seriously, “you lie low. If you don’t you’re liable to be took up.”
“Take your advice t’ yourself,” the skipper retorted. “Your reputation’s none o’ the best in this harbour.”
“We’ll sail to-morrow night,” said Archie.
“Given a dark night an’ a fair wind,” the skipper qualified.
Skipper Bill made his way to a quiet café of his acquaintance; and Josiah vanished in the 155 fog to lie hidden with a shipmate of other days. Archie––depending upon his youth and air and accent and well-tailored dress to avert suspicion––went boldly to the Hotel Joinville and sat down to dinner. The dinner was good; he enjoyed it, and was presently delighting in the romance in which he had a part. It all seemed too good to be true. How glad he was he had come! To be here––in the French Islands of Miquelon––to have captured a schooner––to have a prisoner in the cabin––to be about to run off with the Heavenly Home. For the life of him, Archie could not take the thing seriously. He chuckled––and chuckled––and chuckled again.