time at the first
convenient spot they could reach.

He had for some distance observed no signs of cultivation, when he found
that they were passing close to a plantation. Then there appeared a
house on one side, then another and another. Barking dogs came rushing
out, and they had some difficulty in keeping them at bay. The brutes
followed them, however, joined by others. A voice from a gateway
shouted, "Who goes there?"

"Friends!" answered Rayner.

"Advance, friends, and show yourselves, and give the countersign," said
a sentry, at the same time calling out the guard.

To run would have been useless, besides which it is not a movement
British officers and seamen are wont to make, except after an enemy.

Rayner therefore determined to put a bold face upon the matter, advanced
with his companions, and the next instant they found themselves
surrounded by a body of French soldiers, whose looks, as they held up a
couple of lanterns, were anything but satisfactory.

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

RECAPTURED--AN UNEXPECTED RESCUE.

"Whence do you come and where are you going, mes amis?" asked the
sergeant of the guard, addressing Tom, who was nearest him.

"What's that you say, old chap?" said Tom, forgetting the strict orders
he had received to hold his tongue.

"Ah, what language is that?" exclaimed the sergeant, holding up his
lantern and examining the sailor's countenance. "You are not a
Frenchman, I'll vow." He turned from one to the other, looking in the
faces of each. "Why, I believe these are the very men we were ordered
to search for. Seize them all. Take care that none escape. There are
five of them, the very number we were told of, and one, the traitor, we
have already got. Can any of you speak French? though I doubt it."

"Should you be satisfied, monsieur sergeant, if we do speak French, and
better French than many of the people about here?" asked Rayner. "If
so, will you let us go on our journey? do we look like English sailors?"

"I don't know how English sailors generally look," said the sergeant,
gruffly, and rather taken aback at being suddenly addressed in his own
language. "You certainly have the appearance of overseers, or people of
that sort, but your countenances betray you. I am not to be deceived.
Bring them along into the guard-room."

In vain Rayner pleaded that he and his companions were in a hurry to
proceed on their journey.

They were dragged into the building, and a