we rose over the edge of
the wall he approached, and by the aid of the lamp burning strongly
close at hand, he recognised us as persons who had been coming and
going throughout the day. Caudel called out "_Bong swore_," and moved
off that his bulky frame might not be visible. The man in a civil
voice asked in French if we had any fire-arms on us.

"No, no," I responded, "we are going to fetch a friend who has
consented to take a little cruise with us. The tide is making, and we
hope to be under way before two o'clock."

"You English love the sea," said he, good-naturedly; "all hours of the
day and night are the same to you. For my part, give me my bed at
night."

"Here is something to furnish you with a pleasant dream when you get to
bed," said I, giving him a franc. "When are you off duty?"

"I am here till four o'clock," he answered.

"Good," said I, and carelessly strolled after the portly figure of my
captain.

We said little until we had cleared the Rue de l'Ecu and were marching
up the broad Grande Rue, with the church of St. Nicholas soaring in a
dusky mass out of the market-place, and the few lights of the wide,
main street rising in fitful twinklings to the shadow of the rampart
walls. A mounted gendarme passed; the stroke of his horse's hoofs
sounded hollow in the broad thoroughfare and accentuated the deserted
appearance of the street. Here and there a light showed in a window;
from a distance came a noise of chorusing: a number of fellows, no
doubt, arm-in-arm, singing "Mourir pour la Patrie," to the inspiration
of several glasses of sugar and water.

"I sha'n't be sorry when we're there," said Caudel. "This here ladder
makes my coat feel a terrible tight fit. I suppose it'll be the first
job of the sort ye was ever engaged in, sir?"

"The first," said I, "and the last too, believe me. It is nervous
work. I would rather have to deal with an armed burglar than with an
elopement. I wish the business was ended, and we were heading for
Penzance."

"And I don't suppose the young lady feels extray comfortable, either,"
he exclaimed. "Let me see: I've got to be right in my latitude and
longitude, or we shall be finding ourselves ashore. It's for us to
make the signal, ain't it, sir?"

"Yes," said I, puffing, for the road was steep and we were walking
rapidly; "first of all you'll have to prepare the ladder. You haven't
forgotten the rungs, I hope?" referring to three brass pieces to kee