ut exactly where their raft lay.

Bill had not failed to observe the shape of the harbour, and to take
note of the various objects on shore, as he and Jack were brought in
prisoners by the French boat; but the partial survey he was then able to
make did not enable him to settle positively in what direction they
ought to proceed to find their raft.

By keeping on as they were then going they believed that they should
make the shore of the harbour at no great distance from the mouth. They
might then keep along up it until they reached the place where they
landed, near which they hoped to find their raft moored.

"I am only afraid that we may meet some guards or patrols, or fishermen
coming on shore or going off to their vessels," observed Jack.

"If we do we must try to hide ourselves," answered Bill. "We'll keep
along as close as we can under the cliffs, or any walls or houses we are
passing, so that we may see people before we are seen ourselves."

They acted as Bill suggested, and pushed boldly onwards. Not a sound
was heard coming either from the land side or from the harbour. The
water was as smooth as glass.

They were still going forward when Jack seized Bill's arm. "That's the
place," he whispered. "I can make out the raft, moored outside a boat
at the end of a slip."

Bill, creeping forward, assured himself that Jack was right, and, as
nothing could be gained by waiting a moment, they hurried on, and in a
few seconds were on board their raft. Jack plunged his hand into one of
the chests, to ascertain that the articles it had contained were still
there. They had not been taken away.

He could scarcely refrain from shouting out for joy.

Even the oars had not been removed.

They got another from the boat alongside to supply the place of the one
which had been splintered.

"Cut the warps," cried Bill. "We'll paddle on till we find the breeze."

The raft was quickly cast loose, and, getting out the oars, they began
to paddle silently down the harbour. They could not avoid making some
slight noise, but they hoped that there was no one on the watch to hear
it. Very frequently they turned their glances astern to ascertain if
they were followed, but they could see nothing moving. There were
several vessels lower down the harbour, so they steered a course which
would carry them past at some little distance from them.

The raft moved easily over the smooth surface, and they made good way.
There w