he King, turning abruptly, with a flush of anger on
his countenance, "the Eddystone lighthouse, which so stands as to be of
equal service to all nations having occasion to navigate the channel?"

"The same, sire; and the officer who has done this expects to be
rewarded."

"Ha: he shall not be disappointed; he shall have his reward," exclaims
the King. "Let him be placed in the prison where the English men now
lie, to remain there during our pleasure; and set the builders of the
Eddystone free. Let them have gifts, and all honourable treatment, to
repay them for their temporary distress, and send them home, without
delay, in the same vessel which brought them hither. We are indeed at
war with England, but not with mankind!"

The commands of kings are, as a rule, promptly obeyed. Even although
there were neither railways nor telegraphs in those days, many hours had
not elapsed before the tall gendarme stood in the prison-cell where John
Potter and his friends were confined. There was a peculiar twinkle in
his eye, as he ordered a band of soldiers to act as a guard of honour in
conducting the Englishmen to the best hotel in the town, where a
sumptuous collation awaited them. Arrived there, the circumstances of
their case were explained to them by the chief magistrate, who was in
waiting to receive them and present them with certain gifts, by order of
Louis XIV.

The fortunate men looked on at all that was done, ate their feast, and
received their gifts in speechless amazement, until at length the
gendarme (who acted as interpreter, and seemed to experience intense
enjoyment at the whole affair) asked if they were ready to embark for
England? To which Teddy Maroon replied, by turning to John Potter and
saying, "I say, John, just give me a dig in the ribs, will 'ee: a good
sharp one. It's of no use at all goin' on draimin' like this. It'll
only make it the worse the longer I am o' wakin' up."

John Potter smiled and shook his head; but when he and his friends were
conducted by their guard of honour on board of the schooner which had
brought them there, and when they saw the moustached commander brought
out of his cabin and led ashore in irons, and heard the click of the
capstan as the vessel was warped out of harbour, and beheld the tall
gendarme take off his cocked hat and wish them "_bon voyage_" as they
passed the head of the pier, they at length became convinced that "it
was all true;" and Teddy declared wi