ir intentions, and drawing
their pistols presented them at the heads of their prisoners.

The ladies shrieked, fancying they were about to fire, and Tom turned
pale.

"Pray don't be alarmed," said Rayner. "We yield to the sergeant, and
before we go I wish, in the name of my companions and myself, to express
to you the deep gratitude we feel for your kindness. Farewell!"

He and Oliver kissed their hands, and the sergeant made significant
signs to them to go through the doorway.

"Have I the word of you two officers and your men that you will commit
no violence?" he asked. "If you refuse it, I shall be under the
necessity of binding your arms behind you."

"What shall I say, Oliver?" asked Rayner. "If we give the promise we
lose the chance of attempting to make our escape; but then again, if our
arms are bound no opportunity can occur."

"Say then that we will attempt no violence, and submit to any directions
he may give us," answered Oliver.

Rayner spoke as Oliver advised, and the sergeant appeared satisfied, as
he imposed no other promise.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

IN PRISON, AND OUT AGAIN.

The order to march was given. The two officers went first, followed by
Brown and Tom supporting Jack, and the gendarmes marched on either side
of them with their bayonets fixed.

Rayner and Oliver took the bearings of the house and remarked the
country as they went along. They found that they were proceeding
inland, and on inquiring of the sergeant he said that they were going to
a place called Le Trou, where other English prisoners were confined.

"Are there many of them?" inquired Rayner.

"Yes," answered the Frenchman, "some hundreds, I believe; for one of our
frigates captured a ship of yours not long ago, and most of the officers
and men who escaped death were sent there."

Rayner in vain endeavoured to ascertain what English ship was spoken of,
for he had heard of none taken by the French of late years. The
sergeant, however, was positive, though he did not know either the name
of the ship or the exact time of the capture.

"I suspect he has heard some old story, and he repeats it for the sake
of annoying us," observed Oliver.

"We must not let him suppose that we are cast down. We'll try to learn
how far off this Le Trou is."

Rayner questioned the sergeant.

"He says it is three days' journey. We shall have to stop at different
houses on the road. That he must first take us to the mayor, or