ese observations, which Rayner translated to his companions, made them
still more anxious to push on. He and Oliver led the way with Le Duc,
whom they desired to answer should they come suddenly on any of the
inhabitants.

They went on and on, stumbling among rocks, now forcing their way
through a wood, now ascending a rugged slope, until they found
themselves at what appeared to have been a sugar plantation, but
evidently abandoned for the fences were thrown down, though the shrubs
and bushes formed an almost impenetrable barrier. They discovered,
however, at last, a path. Even that was much overgrown, though they
managed to force their way through it.

When once out of the plantation they found the road less obstructed.
Reaching a rising ground, they eagerly looked round, hoping to see a
light streaming from the windows of some house, where they could obtain
the rest and food they so much required.

"I think I caught sight of a glimmer among the trees. Look there!" said
Oliver.

They took the bearings of the light, and descending the hill,
endeavoured to direct their course towards it. At last they reached a
road, which they concluded must lead towards the house where the light
had been seen. They went on some way farther in darkness.

"We are all right," cried Oliver. "I caught sight of three lights from
as many different windows. That shows that it is a house of some size."

"I don't know whether that would be an advantage," observed Rayner.
"The owner may dislike the English, and refuse to receive us, or send
off to the authorities and have us carried away to prison."

"But you and Le Duc and Peek, as you speak French, may pass for
Frenchmen; and a man must be a curmudgeon if he refuses to afford
assistance to sailors in distress," observed Oliver.

"I can't say much for Peek's French, or for my own either. I would
rather state at once who we are," said Rayner. "Le Duc is an honest
fellow, and he will explain why we came on the coast, and will tell them
how we saved his life."

Le Duc, being asked, replied that he would gladly undertake whatever the
English officers wished, and it was arranged that as soon as they got
near the house he should go on and ascertain the disposition of the
inhabitants. Should they be ill-disposed towards the English he was to
return, and they would go on rather than run the risk of being detained
and sent to prison.

Sooner than they had expected they got close up