bay.

If a cautious reserve prevented any open questioning as to the late
affray, the second boat which came alongside revealed some of its
terrible consequences. Seven wounded soldiers were assisted up the
side by their comrades, and in total silence conveyed to their station
between decks.

'A bad augury this!' muttered Sullivan, as his eye followed them. 'They
might as well have left that work for the English!'

A swift six-oar boat, with the tricolour flag floating from a flagstaff
at her stern, now skimmed along towards us, and as she came nearer we
could recognise the uniforms of the officers of Humbert's staff, while
the burly figure of the general himself was soon distinguishable in the
midst of them.

As he stepped up the ladder, not a trace of displeasure could be seen on
his broad bold features. Greeting the assembled officers with a smile,
he asked how the wind was.

'All fair, and freshening at every moment,' was the answer.

'May it continue!' cried he fervently. 'Welcome a hurricane, if it only
waft us westward!'

The foresail filled out as he spoke, the heavy ship heaved over to the
wind, and we began our voyage.

CHAPTER XVIII. 'THE BAY OF BATHFRAN'

Our voyage was very uneventful, but not without anxiety, since, to avoid
the English cruisers and the Channel fleet, we were obliged to hold
a southerly course for several days, making a great circuit before we
could venture to bear up for the place of our destination. The weather
alternated between light winds and a dead calm, which usually came on
every day at noon, and lasted till about sunset. As to me, there was
an unceasing novelty in everything about a ship; her mechanism, her
discipline, her progress, furnished abundant occupation for all my
thoughts, and I never wearied of acquiring knowledge of a theme so
deeply interesting. My intercourse with the naval officers, too,
impressed me strongly in their favour in comparison with their comrades
of the land service. In the former case, all was zeal, activity, and
watchfulness. The lookout never slumbered at his post; and an unceasing
anxiety to promote the success of the expedition manifested itself in
all their words and actions. This, of course, was all to be expected in
the discharge of the duties peculiarly their own; but I also looked for
something which should denote preparation and forethought in the
others; yet nothing of the kind was to be seen. The expedition was never
discu