e? any witnesses? Of course we had none but ourselves.

Then the sentence of the court was pronounced. Captain Cochin was to be
guillotined next morning. The rest of us were to be hanged in chains
that afternoon, and our bodies left exposed to view for three days as a
warning to pirates and traitors.

So ended our trial; and had it not been so tragic in its ending, I could
have laughed at the farce of it.

We were marched back to our prison to spend the few hours that remained
of our lives; and on the way our attention was directed by a friendly
guard to a great gallows with accommodation on it for at least ten
persons side by side. I only hoped, if it came to that, I might be in
the first batch.

This time I was placed in a different cell from that I had occupied the
night before. It was above ground, and lit by a larger window. Indeed,
it was not intended to be used as a cell at all; but, as my jailer
explained in a jocular way, he had so many guests that day that he was
obliged to accommodate some of them in the soldiers' quarters, and
begged monsieur (that was I) would accept his excuses for not having
made more elaborate preparations for his reception. In half-an-hour or
so, he said, there would be more room. If monsieur could kindly wait
till then, he should have an apartment suited to his dignity.

"Monsieur is too good," said I in the politest French I could muster,
thinking it wise to humour him; "but I should take it as a favour to be
allowed to give up my apartment."

"By no means," said the other, slapping me on the back; "we cannot spare
your company a moment before the time.--Meanwhile, make yourself at
home, and receive the assurance of my profound esteem."

"There is one favour I would beg, if I might be so bold," said I. "In
the short time left me I would like to write a letter to a friend."

"If it is a lady friend," said the Frenchman with a wink, "it might be
allowed--provided she is fair, and I may have the honour of delivering
it."

"She is fair," said I, trying hard to keep up the jest; "and I will
gladly trust you with what I write to her."

The fellow was, after all, of the good-natured kind, and I think meant
no harm by his jests. At any rate, after some demur, he agreed to loose
my handcuffs for half-an-hour while I wrote; and having fetched me in
pen and paper, left me to myself, double locking the door after him.

This was what I wanted. I waited till his footsteps die