Sooner than they had expected they got close up to what was evidently a house of considerable size, as the lights came from windows some distance above the ground. While Le Duc went forward, the rest of the party remained concealed under shelter of some thick bushes. He had not got far when a loud barking showed that several dogs were on the watch.
He advanced, however, boldly, calling to the dogs, and shouting for some one to come and receive him.
The animals, though satisfied that he was not a thief, seemed to suspect that there were other persons not far off.
“I say, here the brutes come,” whispered Tom. “They’ll be tearing us to pieces. The people in these parts, I have read, have great big bloodhounds to hunt the Indians with. If they come near us we must knock them over.”
“That won’t make the people inclined to treat us more kindly,” answered Jack. “When the dogs find we are quiet, they’ll let us alone.”
Just then the voice of some one was heard calling the dogs, who went back to the house.
Some time passed. At last Le Duc’s voice was heard. It was too dark to see him.
“It’s all arranged, messieurs,” he said. “There’s an old lady and two young ladies in the house. I told them all about you, when they said that they were fond of the English, and would be very happy to give you shelter and food, but that you must come quietly so that no one but their old brown maître d’hôtel, and black girls who wait on them, should know that you are in the house. Follow me, then, and just have the goodness to tell the men that they must behave themselves or they may be getting into trouble.”
“I’ll tell them what you say,” observed Rayner; and turning to the three seamen, he said—
“Remember that though you are on shore you belong to the Lily, and are, therefore, as much under discipline as if you were on board.”