hem. This was of
consequence, as had there been, they might have been seen by any person
within during their descent, rapidly as they might make it. Bill
considered whether it would be possible to withdraw the rope after they
had descended, but he doubted whether they had sufficient materials to
enable them to do that.

"Well, it cannot be helped," Bill said to himself. "The Frenchmen will
see how we escaped, but they won't find it out till daylight, and it
won't matter much then."

He had finished his survey, and settled his plan, when Jack cried out,
"Hist! there's some one coming!" and they ran back and sat themselves
down near the table with their heads on their hands, as if they were
feeling very melancholy and disconsolate.

"I wish I could squeeze out a tear," said Jack; "but I can't for the
life of me. I feel so jolly at your idea of getting off."

Presently the door opened, and an old woman entered with a basket.

"I have brought you some food and a bottle of wine, mes garcons," she
said, in a kind tone. "The general gave me permission, and I was very
glad to bring it, as I knew that you must be hungry. Poor boys! I
heard of your attempt to get away. You would have been drowned to a
certainty if you hadn't been caught, and that would have been sad, for
one of you, they say, wanted to get back to see his mother. I have got
a son at sea, so I can feel for her. I wish he was safe back again. I
don't know what they will do with you, but I hear that you are to be
tried to-morrow, and the Irish officer here says you are spies, and if
so, you will run a great chance of being hung, or, at all events, shut
up in a prison till you confess what you have been about. Ah! but I
forgot. They say you don't speak French, and you may not have
understood a word I have said."

Jack and Bill could scarcely refrain from laughing as the old woman ran
on, but they restrained themselves, and when she showed them the
contents of the basket, they merely said, "Bon! bon! merci! merci!"
several times, and looked very well pleased, as indeed they were, for
there was food enough to last them two or three days, full allowance--
cheese and sausages, bread, figs, raisins, and butter, besides the
bottle of wine.

They were afraid of drinking much of that, not knowing how weak it was,
lest it should get into their heads, for they wanted no Dutch courage to
do what they intended--they had pluck enough without that.

The old