, where they had come
from, and where they were going.

According to their previous agreement they made no reply, so that their
captors might not discover that they understood French; still, as far as
Bill could make out, the Frenchmen were not aware that they were the
lads who had escaped from the old tower.

They had no reason to complain of the way they were spoken of by the
Frenchmen, who were evidently struck by their hardihood and
determination in their persevering efforts to escape. They remarked to
each other that their young prisoners were brave boys, and expressed
their satisfaction that they were not hurt.

When the officer found, as he supposed, that they could not answer him,
he forbore to put any further questions.

The crew did not appear to be angry at the long pull that had been given
them back; indeed, Jack and Bill suspected, from what they heard, that
the seamen, at all events, would not have been sorry if they had escaped
altogether.

On reaching the landing-place in the harbour, they found a party of
soldiers, with an officer, who, from what Bill made out, had sent the
boat in pursuit of them.

As soon as they stepped on shore the officer began to question them, in
the same way as the commander of the boat had done.

Bill shrugged his shoulders and turned to Jack, and Jack shrugged his
and turned to Bill, as much as to say, "I wonder what he's talking
about?"

"The lads do not understand French, that is evident," said the officer
to a subordinate standing near him; "I shall get nothing out of them
without an interpreter. They do not look stupid either, and they must
be bold fellows, or they would not have attempted to made a voyage on
that raft. I must have a nearer look at it;" and he ordered the boatmen
to bring it in close to the shore, so that he might examine it.

He again turned to Bill, and said, "What were you going to attempt to
cross the Channel on that?"

Bill, as before, shrugged his shoulders, quite in the French fashion,
for he had learnt the trick from Pierre, who, when he was in doubt about
a matter, always did so.

"I forgot; the boy doesn't understand French," observed the officer.

Bill had some little difficulty in refraining from laughing, as he
understood perfectly well everything that was said around him, except
when the Frenchmen talked unusually fast.

"Let the raft be moored close to the shore, just in its present state,"
said the officer; "the general