"Ah," he said, "I am 'fraid you have one ver' deeficult task. But I am glad you fin' your way to me. I will help you all I can."
It developed that he knew nothing of either the schooner Josephine or M. Mordaunt, or anyone to fit the description Marat was able to give him. But after listening to the recital of the circumstances (set about the disappearance of little Marie Cambon) he said,—"Oui, oui! it was thad man. Such things like thad have happen more times than the world think. You have come to the right place."
Jules Sevier at the last told us that he would make some private inquiries, and advised that we come back on the following day to learn the results.
We were soon in our boat, somewhat cheered by the bit of encouragement we'd got, alloyed as it was.
"I think it's a good sign," declared Robert, "that we went so straight to that man. He can help us if anybody can."
Robert was something of a fatalist you see.
"Yes, he know ver' much about the voodoo," said Jean Marat.
We boarded the Pearl, to wait several hours before the others showed up. When they drew near we could see that they had been unsuccessful. They had found no schooner of the name sought, nor any with a newly painted name.
"Of course," said Norris, "she might be lying hid behind some small island, or point, miles away, and it will take anyway a week to find out."