extra watch or
trudge an extra mile on the bank beside the occasional horses which here
and there we engaged to help us on.

It was a tedious and dull journey, threading our way through endless
twists and between numerous islands, halting only between the late
summer dusk and the early summer dawn, quitting our barge only in search
of provender or a horse, parleying only with officials and returning
barges.

One or two of the skippers on the latter inquired of Benoit what had
become of his former assistant, and alarmed me somewhat by questioning
me as to my previous calling. But my skipper's explanation was
generally enough, and I was admitted into the noble fraternity of Seine
bargees without much objection. The few who did object sailed the other
way, so that their objection mattered little.

Our longest stay was at Rouen, where once more my master reminded me
that I was Citizen Plon, and that my policy was to hold my tongue and
lie low.

The police here were very suspicious, and insisted on searching our
cargo thoroughly for fugitives, of whom reports from Paris said there
were a good many lying hid in boats and barges.

However, they found none with us. How I toiled and sweated to assist
their search! and what a reputation poor Plon acquired for zeal in the
service of the Republic One and Indivisible!

After leaving Rouen we used our sail a good deal in the broad reaches of
the river. Monsieur Benoit (who had quite forgotten my pay) was good
enough to compliment me on my skill in handling canvas, and as we neared
our destination his civility became almost embarrassing. He sought to
engage me as his permanent lieutenant, and promised to make all sorts of
excellent reports on my behalf to the officials. I humoured him as best
I could; but the scent of the sea-breezes as we gradually reached the
wide estuary and saw before us the masts and towers of the city of
Havre, set me longing for old Ireland, and determined me, Benoit or no
Benoit, to set my foot once more on Fanad.

I requested of Benoit a few days' leave of absence, after our stores
were duly delivered at the depot, which he agreed to on the
understanding that my wages should not be paid me till I returned to the
barge. In this way he imagined he made sure of me, and I was content to
leave him in that simple faith.

But now, as I wandered through the squalid streets of the city of Havre,
and looked out at the great Atlantic waves beating in on