“But there is nothing to cover us, and barely sufficient to keep us from the floor,” observed Paul.
The man smiled, and replied, “To-morrow, perhaps, I may find something of more use to you.”
The following day he came again, loaded with a bundle of old sails. “Seamen have no reason to complain who can obtain such coverlids as these,” he remarked, as he threw them down, and again left the room.
Each time that he went, they heard the sound of the door being locked and bolted. On undoing the sails they found that ropes were attached to them, and on examining these they were found to be sound and strong.
“That man is our friend, and depend on it these ropes were not sent in here by chance,” observed O’Grady positively. “Very likely the old gentleman at the château sent him.”
They were confirmed in the opinion that the rope was intended for use, by the appearance of the man, in the evening, to bring them a fresh supply of provisions.
“I’ve heard it said that it’s no easy matter to keep English seamen in a cage when they have the will to get out,” he remarked, as he turned round towards the door.
“Are we likely to be kept here long?” Paul asked.
“Until directions have been received from head-quarters, and as they are some way off, and yours is not a matter of importance, it may be a month or more,” was the answer.
“He means to say that we may select our time for escaping,” said Paul when the man had gone; “unless the rope was sent as a trap to tempt us to try and escape.”