for many Frenchmen.

Even the mayor was impressed, and a pleased smile came over his weazened
features.

"I am ready to believe the account you give me, and that you certainly
are not spies," he said. "The body of your countryman found on the
beach proves that you were shipwrecked. Still, as you are in the
country, we must consider you as prisoners of war, and treat you as
such. For this night you must remain here, and to-morrow I will
consider whether I will send you to Leogane or Le Trou, where you will
wait with others of your countrymen to be exchanged."

After some further remarks the examination terminated, and Rayner and
Oliver, with the three seamen, were marched off under a guard to the
tower.

It was nearly dark, and they were conducted by the light of a lantern up
two flights of steps to a room in an upper storey. As far as they could
judge, it was furnished with several pallet beds, a table, some chairs,
and stools.

"You are to remain here until to-morrow morning, messieurs, when I shall
know in what direction to proceed. Monsieur le Maire has ordered you
some food, and you will, I hope, not complain of your treatment," said
the sergeant, as he closed the door, which he locked and bolted. They
heard him descending.

"We are better off than I should have expected," remarked Rayner,
surveying the room by the light of the lantern which the sergeant had
left.

"The point is, Are we able to escape?" said Oliver.

"You mind, sir, how we got out of the prison in France, and I don't see
why we shouldn't get out of this place," observed Jack, going to one of
the two narrow windows which the room contained, and looking forth.
They were strongly-barred. The night was dark, and he could only see
the glimmer of a light here and there in the distance. It was
impossible also to ascertain the height of the window from the ground.

"We will certainly try to get out," said Rayner, joining Jack at the
window. "Though I fear that you with your bruises and battered ribs
will be unable to make your way on foot across the country."

"Don't mind me, sir," answered Jack. "I have no pain to speak of. If
the worst comes to the worst, I can but remain behind. I shall be
content if you and Mr Crofton and Tom and Brown make your escape."

"No, no, my brave fellow," said Rayner, "we will not leave you behind.
But before we talk of what we will do, we must try what we can do.
These bars seem very strongly fixed