“Advance, friends, and show yourselves, and give the countersign,” said a sentry, at the same time calling out the guard.
To run would have been useless, besides which it is not a movement British officers and seamen are wont to make, except after an enemy.
Rayner therefore determined to put a bold face upon the matter, advanced with his companions, and the next instant they found themselves surrounded by a body of French soldiers, whose looks, as they held up a couple of lanterns, were anything but satisfactory.
Chapter Thirty Four.
Recaptured—An unexpected rescue.
“Whence do you come and where are you going, mes amis?” asked the sergeant of the guard, addressing Tom, who was nearest him.
“What’s that you say, old chap?” said Tom, forgetting the strict orders he had received to hold his tongue.
“Ah, what language is that?” exclaimed the sergeant, holding up his lantern and examining the sailor’s countenance. “You are not a Frenchman, I’ll vow.” He turned from one to the other, looking in the faces of each. “Why, I believe these are the very men we were ordered to search for. Seize them all. Take care that none escape. There are five of them, the very number we were told of, and one, the traitor, we have already got. Can any of you speak French? though I doubt it.”